Kiri

Brussels/The Hague, 26 November 2025

To the personal attention of Heidy Purga Minister of Culture Ministry of Culture Suur-Karja 23 EE- 15076 Tallinn

Re: Support for the proposed Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe”

Honourable Madam Minister,

We write to you on behalf of Europa Nostra - the pan-European organisation dedicated to safeguarding cultural and natural heritage, and leader of the European Heritage Hub - ahead of the Council of the European Union meeting on 28 November, to be held under the Danish Presidency. We wish to express our strong support for the proposed Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe,” put forward by Glen Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, as a means to strengthen the political support of key EU Institutions for the Culture Compass for Europe presented by the European Commission on 12 November.

As indicated in our initial reaction to the Culture Compass, we applaud the Commission’s invitation to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to adopt this Joint Declaration. It represents a timely opportunity for EU Member States to reaffirm European Union’s political commitment to achieve and implement a transversal vision for culture and cultural heritage through adequate actions and resources to be allocated to culture in the next MFF. By endorsing the Declaration, EU Ministers of Culture would jointly send a strong message that the European Union values culture and heritage as cornerstone of Europe’s security, resilience, democracy, competitiveness, social cohesion and sustainable development.

With the Culture Compass, the European Union benefits from a clear strategic framework to inspire and guide its cultural policies and action, emphasising the vital role of culture and heritage in shaping European identity, celebrating diversity and promoting excellence. Its holistic vision, captured in the motto “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe,” outlines actions that support artists and cultural professionals, strengthens civil society, encourage cross-border collaboration, and connect citizens across Europe and beyond. We applaud the fact that the strategy of the Cultural Compass is anchored in our shared cultural values and that it champions cultural rights.

The proposed Joint Declaration translates this strategic and holistic vision of the Culture Compass into strong political commitments. It aims to demonstrate that the European Union’s political leadership recognises the vital role of culture and heritage Europe’s citizens and communities, and signals a commitment to allocate resources, align policies, and coordinate efforts across Member States, regions and cities. This Declaration is therefore both a symbolic affirmation and a tangible step to ensure that culture and heritage actively shape Europe’s present and future.

The Cultural Compass and the proposed Joint Declaration are fully aligned with Europa Nostra’s Brussels Manifesto 2025, “Heritage Matters for Europe – Europe Matters for Heritage.” We especially welcome the prominent emphasis on the vital role of cultural heritage which has been recognised throughout the Culture Compass for Europe, with one of the four guiding directions explicitly dedicated to its protection, promotion and full integration into EU policies, recognising its transversal role in shaping Europe’s identity and future.

We are delighted that the Compass also recognises the value of established EU instruments such as the European Heritage Label, the European Heritage Days, the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, and the European Heritage Hub which brings together a strong and large European Consortium of partners, led by Europa Nostra.

The simultaneous presentation of the Culture Compass, the European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society underscores the intricate connection between culture, heritage, and democracy. It is widely recognised nowadays that investment in culture and heritage strengthens democratic values, civic participation, and social cohesion. We urge therefore the EU Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the European Commission to ensure strong synergies across these strategies so that culture, democracy and civil society reinforce each other for the benefit of Europe’s citizens and their communities.

To sum up, we urge you and your counterparts from other EU Member States to express your support for this Joint Declaration. Your endorsement would send a strong signal and firm confirmation that culture and cultural heritage have been elevated among the key priorities and resources of benefit for the future of Europe.

Europa Nostra, together with our numerous members and partners, has been championing for many years the need for culture and cultural heritage to be placed where they belong – at the very heart of the European project. Together with the European Heritage Alliance and the European Heritage Hub Consortium, we are keen to continue working closely with all EU Institutions to translate the Culture Compass into a positive driving force and a next success story for Europe and its citizens.

Thanking you in advance for your support to the Culture Compass,

Yours sincerely,

Hermann Parzinger Executive President of Europa Nostra Chair of the Advisory Council of the European Heritage Hub

Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović Secretary General of Europa Nostra Leader of the European Heritage Hub Consortium

Brussels/The Hague, 26 November 2025

To the personal attention of Heidy Purga Minister of Culture Ministry of Culture Suur-Karja 23 EE- 15076 Tallinn

Re: Support for the proposed Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe”

Honourable Madam Minister,

We write to you on behalf of Europa Nostra - the pan-European organisation dedicated to safeguarding cultural and natural heritage, and leader of the European Heritage Hub - ahead of the Council of the European Union meeting on 28 November, to be held under the Danish Presidency. We wish to express our strong support for the proposed Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe,” put forward by Glen Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, as a means to strengthen the political support of key EU Institutions for the Culture Compass for Europe presented by the European Commission on 12 November.

As indicated in our initial reaction to the Culture Compass, we applaud the Commission’s invitation to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to adopt this Joint Declaration. It represents a timely opportunity for EU Member States to reaffirm European Union’s political commitment to achieve and implement a transversal vision for culture and cultural heritage through adequate actions and resources to be allocated to culture in the next MFF. By endorsing the Declaration, EU Ministers of Culture would jointly send a strong message that the European Union values culture and heritage as cornerstone of Europe’s security, resilience, democracy, competitiveness, social cohesion and sustainable development.

With the Culture Compass, the European Union benefits from a clear strategic framework to inspire and guide its cultural policies and action, emphasising the vital role of culture and heritage in shaping European identity, celebrating diversity and promoting excellence. Its holistic vision, captured in the motto “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe,” outlines actions that support artists and cultural professionals, strengthens civil society, encourage cross-border collaboration, and connect citizens across Europe and beyond. We applaud the fact that the strategy of the Cultural Compass is anchored in our shared cultural values and that it champions cultural rights.

The proposed Joint Declaration translates this strategic and holistic vision of the Culture Compass into strong political commitments. It aims to demonstrate that the European Union’s political leadership recognises the vital role of culture and heritage Europe’s citizens and communities, and signals a commitment to allocate resources, align policies, and coordinate efforts across Member States, regions and cities. This Declaration is therefore both a symbolic affirmation and a tangible step to ensure that culture and heritage actively shape Europe’s present and future.

The Cultural Compass and the proposed Joint Declaration are fully aligned with Europa Nostra’s Brussels Manifesto 2025, “Heritage Matters for Europe – Europe Matters for Heritage.” We especially welcome the prominent emphasis on the vital role of cultural heritage which has been recognised throughout the Culture Compass for Europe, with one of the four guiding directions explicitly dedicated to its protection, promotion and full integration into EU policies, recognising its transversal role in shaping Europe’s identity and future.

We are delighted that the Compass also recognises the value of established EU instruments such as the European Heritage Label, the European Heritage Days, the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, and the European Heritage Hub which brings together a strong and large European Consortium of partners, led by Europa Nostra.

The simultaneous presentation of the Culture Compass, the European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society underscores the intricate connection between culture, heritage, and democracy. It is widely recognised nowadays that investment in culture and heritage strengthens democratic values, civic participation, and social cohesion. We urge therefore the EU Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the European Commission to ensure strong synergies across these strategies so that culture, democracy and civil society reinforce each other for the benefit of Europe’s citizens and their communities.

To sum up, we urge you and your counterparts from other EU Member States to express your support for this Joint Declaration. Your endorsement would send a strong signal and firm confirmation that culture and cultural heritage have been elevated among the key priorities and resources of benefit for the future of Europe.

Europa Nostra, together with our numerous members and partners, has been championing for many years the need for culture and cultural heritage to be placed where they belong – at the very heart of the European project. Together with the European Heritage Alliance and the European Heritage Hub Consortium, we are keen to continue working closely with all EU Institutions to translate the Culture Compass into a positive driving force and a next success story for Europe and its citizens.

Thanking you in advance for your support to the Culture Compass,

Yours sincerely,

Hermann Parzinger Executive President of Europa Nostra Chair of the Advisory Council of the European Heritage Hub

Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović Secretary General of Europa Nostra Leader of the European Heritage Hub Consortium