FRH concludes the year with a focus on European cultural policy

Members of the European Heritage Alliance at their meeting in Brussels.

The European Heritage Alliance 3.3 held its last meeting of 2024 at the Europa Nostra (coordinator of the alliance) office in Brussels. The session, which was the only one conducted in person this year, was chaired once again by Lilian Grootswagers, FRH Advisory Board President, and brought together key stakeholders from 15 cultural heritage organisations and representatives from the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport, and Culture of the European Commission.

The meeting included an update on EU policy by Europa Nostra following the formation of the new CULT Committee of the European Parliament and the appointment of Glenn Micallef as European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport.

The presence of Susanne Hollmann, Senior Expert of DG EAC, provided a valuable opportunity to learn more and exchange views on the forthcoming ‘Cultural Compass’, which will outline renewed policies for the cultural and creative sector in the European Union.

During the meeting, FRH presented the recently published Study on the Situation of Craft Professions Involved in Safeguarding Built Heritage. This study sheds light on critical issues faced by craftspeople working in built-heritage environments, such as the ageing of the sector, the impact of the digital transition and the need to improve training and education to attract new talent.

Cultural evening with the new EU Commissioner for Culture

The European Heritage Alliance meeting was followed by a cultural evening organised by Europa Nostra and the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation in the framework of the EU-funded European Heritage Hub. The event took place at the Royale Belge Building in Brussels and was attended by Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport.

The numerous representatives of the European cultural sector present at the event had the opportunity to listen to Glenn Micallef’s first public speech in his new capacity as Commissioner after his appointment in December this year. In his intervention, Micallef referred to the recent reopening of Notre Dame de Paris as a ‘testament to the power of culture’ and pointed to unlocking the creative and economic potential of culture as one of the priorities of his portfolio.

Guests also had the opportunity to greet and exchange a few words with the EU Commissioner.

Group photo with EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef.