The Commission presents a report on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 (EYCH 2018).

The overall purpose of the European Year was to encourage the sharing and appreciation of Europe's rich and diverse cultural heritage and to reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space.

Organisation and implementation at EU level

A decentralised approach was adopted to implement the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018. At national level, the European Year was coordinated by “national coordinators”, representing the participating countries - all 28 Member States, as well as nine associated countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of North Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland, Georgia and Serbia).

The implementation of the European Year was a joint effort of the European Commission (up to 15 DGs), the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, the Committee of the Regions, and the European Economic and Social Committee. The Commission ensured the coordination of the European Year at the Union level. The European Commission was assisted by a group of 38 civil society organisations, selected through an open and transparent process, following an open call for participation. UNESCO and the Council of Europe also took part.

The European Parliament also organised a dedicated high-level conference and an interparliamentary committee meeting on European cultural heritage.

Resources

The European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 was allocated a budget of EUR 8 million. A major part of the budget allowed the funding of a dedicated call for cooperation projects under Creative Europe (EUR 4.8 million). In addition, the Commission used this budget to support projects at European level.

Key activities

The European Year 2018 was successful in:

- strengthening the European dimension of cultural heritage;

- initiating a large-scale effort to foster the emergence of innovative and cutting-edge solutions to the challenges of the cultural heritage sector;

- organising a communication campaign targeting school children and young people;

- developing numerous cross-border European initiatives initiated by stakeholders and national coordinators;

- organising over 23 000 events organised in 2018, reaching more than 12.8 million participants.

The 2018 EYCH label was awarded to over 13 000 events (including 2 300 in Ireland alone).

EU funded projects and ten European Initiatives

The Commission launched a dedicated call for proposals under the Creative Europe programme. As a result, 29 transnational cooperation projects were selected out of 77 applications, for a total amount of EUR 4.8 million. The European Year was a horizontal priority of the 2018 Erasmus +programme and Erasmus+ awarded close to EUR 92 million to 965 cooperation and mobility projects dealing with cultural heritage. An estimated amount of EUR 6 billion was initially made available for cultural heritage in the 2014-2020 period under the Cohesion Funds. In 2018 and 2019, Horizon 2020 devoted up to EUR 100 million to research projects on cultural heritage.

Lastly, in 2018, the Commission continued its political and funding support to Europeana, the pan-European online cultural platform.

Conclusion

The report noted that the European Year of Cultural Heritage has had a positive impact on the perception of Europe’s cultural heritage as a powerful resource for Europe. Through highlighting Europe’s cultural heritage on EU and national agendas and a broad mobilisation of actors, the Year contributed to an inter-cultural conversation about what Europe has in common.

The European Parliament was very supportive of the European Year and of further actions at EU level in favour of heritage. It praised the integrated management model, the multi-stakeholder cooperation spirit, and called for an ambitious follow-up.

The Commission together with the Member States and cultural heritage stakeholders will continue implementing a longer-term vision for the management, safeguarding and enhancement of Europe’s cultural heritage.

PURPOSE: to designate 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2017/864 of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of Cultural Heritage (2018).

CONTENT: this Decision designates 2018 as the ‘European Year of Cultural Heritage’ (‘European Year’). Its purpose shall be to: (i) encourage the sharing and appreciation of Europe's cultural heritage as a shared resource; (ii) raise awareness of common history and values, and to reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space.

The year 2018 has a symbolic and historical importance for Europe and its cultural heritage, as it marks a number of significant events such as the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and of the independence of several Member States as well as the 400th anniversary of the start of the Thirty Years' War.

In its resolution of 8 September 2015, the European Parliament recommended designating, preferably for 2018, a European Year of Cultural Heritage.

Objectives : the European Year shall encourage and support the efforts of the Union, the Member States and regional and local authorities, in cooperation with the cultural heritage sector and broader civil society, to protect, safeguard, reuse, enhance, valorise and promote Europe's cultural heritage.

The main specific objectives of the European Year shall be to:

encourage approaches to cultural heritage that are people-centred, inclusive, forward-looking, more integrated, sustainable and cross-sectoral; promote debate, research and the exchange of good practices on the quality of conservation, safeguarding, innovative reuse and enhancement of cultural heritage, and on contemporary interventions in the historical environment; promote solutions which make cultural heritage accessible to all, including via digital means, by removing social, cultural and physical barriers, taking into account people with special needs; encourage synergies between cultural heritage and environment policies by integrating cultural heritage into environmental, architectural and planning policies, and by promoting energy-efficiency; encourage regional and local development strategies that tap into the potential of cultural heritage, including through the promotion of sustainable tourism; highlight the potential of cooperation in matters of cultural heritage for developing stronger ties within the Union and with countries outside the Union and for encouraging intercultural dialogue, post-conflict reconciliation and conflict prevention; strengthen initiatives to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural goods.

The measures to be taken to achieve the objectives set out above shall include, inter alia , information, exhibitions, as well as the promotion of projects and networks connected to the European Year, including via the media and social networks.

Coordination at Member State level : the organisation of participation in the European Year at national level is a responsibility of the Member States. The national coordinators shall ensure the coordination of relevant activities at national level.

The Commission shall regularly convene meetings of the national coordinators in which the European Parliament may participate in those meetings as observers.

Stakeholders and representatives of organisations or bodies active in the field of cultural heritage, including existing transnational cultural networks and relevant NGOs, as well as of youth organisations, shall assist it in implementing the European Year at Union level.

Financing : co-financing at Union level of activities implementing the European Year shall be in accordance with the rules applicable to existing programmes, such as the Creative Europe Programme , and within the existing possibilities for setting priorities on an annual or multiannual basis.

The European Year shall have a specific financial envelope of EUR 8 million for the period from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 9.6.2017.

The European Parliament adopted by 554 votes to 68, with 30 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of Cultural Heritage.

The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Purpose : the purpose of the 2018 European Year shall be to encourage the sharing and appreciation of Europe's cultural heritage as a shared resource , to raise awareness of common history and values, and to reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space.

The specific objectives shall be to:

promote solutions which make cultural heritage accessible to all, including via digital means, by removing social, cultural and physical barriers, taking into account people with special needs; encourage synergies between cultural heritage and environment policies by integrating cultural heritage into environmental, architectural and planning policies, and by promoting energy-efficiency; encourage regional and local development strategies that tap into the potential of cultural heritage, including through the promotion of sustainable tourism; support the development of specialised skills and improve knowledge management and knowledge transfer in the cultural heritage sector; promote cultural heritage as a source of inspiration for contemporary creation and innovation; raise awareness of the importance of Europe's cultural heritage through education and lifelong learning, in particular by focusing on children, young and elderly people, local communities and hard-to-reach groups; highlight historic events which have a symbolic importance for Europe and its cultural heritage such as the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and of the independence of several Member States.

Content of measures : these measures shall consist of: (i) initiatives and events to promote debate and raise awareness of the importance and value of cultural heritage and to facilitate engagement with citizens and stakeholders; (ii) information, exhibitions, education and awareness-raising campaigns to convey values such as diversity and intercultural; (iii) the sharing of experience and good practices and the dissemination of information about cultural heritage; (iv) the promotion of projects and networks connected to the European Year, including via the media and social networks.

Coordination at Member Stated and Union level : the organisation of participation in the European Year at national level is a responsibility of the Member States. To that end, Member States shall appoint national coordinators.

The Commission shall regularly convene meetings of the national coordinators. Representatives of the European Parliament may participate in those meetings as observers.

Stakeholders and representatives of organisations or bodies active in the field of cultural heritage, including existing transnational cultural networks and relevant NGOs, as well as of youth organisations, shall assist it in implementing the European Year at Union level.

Protection of financial interests : the financial interests of the Union shall be protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and inspections and, if irregularities are detected, by the recovery of the amounts unduly paid and, where appropriate, by administrative and financial penalties.

Budget : the financial envelope for the implementation of this Decision for the period from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018 shall be EUR 8 million . The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the European Parliament and the Council within the limits of the multiannual financial framework.

The Committee on Culture and Education adopted the report by Mircea DIACONU (ADLE, RO) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of Cultural Heritage.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Objective of the European Year : the main objective of the European Year is the celebration of European cultural heritage as a shared resource, resulting from a centuries-old history and the intertwining of the Member States as well as European peoples.

It shall enhance the contribution of European cultural heritage to the economy and the society, through its direct and indirect economic potential. This includes the capacity to underpin the cultural and creative industries, small and medium sized enterprises as well as small-scale and large-scale projects.

Working group : in the first quarter of 2017, the Commission shall set up a working group involving the European Parliament and relevant stakeholders. By 31 December 2017, the working group shall present a work plan detailing the activities foreseen for 2018, including the corresponding budgetary allocations, as well as the visual identity for the European Year. A number of flagship initiatives shall be identified by the working group and implemented in the framework of the European Year.

Coordination at Member State level : the competent authorities from the Member States shall work together with the Union institutions in order to guarantee the proper implementation of the European Year and to multiply its impact through additional activities, community involvement and dissemination actions.

The Commission shall convene meetings of the coordinators at Member State level and representatives of the European Parliament in order to coordinate the running of the European Year and to exchange information regarding its implementation at Member State and Union level. The coordination at Union level of the European Year shall have a transversal approach within the Commission ensuring the participation of all relevant Directorates General under the coordination of the Directorate General for Education and Culture with a view to creating synergies between the various Union programmes and initiatives funding projects in the field of cultural heritage, and to better disseminating information on the European Year.

Involvement of civil society : the structure of the European Year shall allow for the active participation of professional organisations operating in the field of cultural heritage, of existing transnational cultural networks and of interested NGOs and cultural associations and, in particular, of youth organisations.

Budget : a dedicated article within the general budget of the Union shall be established for the European Year. This Article shall include the funds foreseen for the preparation of the European Year, its implementation and actions contributing to the European Year's long-term sustainability. The overall funding in this Article shall be EUR 15 million . The indicative breakdown by year shall be as follows:

EUR 1 million in 2017, EUR 13 million in 2018, EUR 1 million in 2019.

Activities financed : the activities organised in the framework of the European Year may be co-financed through dedicated grants from national, regional and local authorities in the Member States and through flexible funding mechanisms such as public-private partnerships or crowdfunding.

PURPOSE: to designate 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: the ideals, principles and values embedded in the European cultural heritage constitute a shared source of remembrance, understanding, identity, dialogue, cohesion and creativity for Europe.

Since the adoption of the European Agenda for Culture in 2007 , cultural heritage has been a priority under successive Council Work Plans for Culture, including the current plan for the period 2015-2018.

The Council, in its conclusions on participatory governance of cultural heritage of 25 November 2014, invited the Commission to consider presenting a proposal for a ‘European Year of Cultural Heritage’. The European Parliament, in its resolution recommended designating, preferably for 2018, a European Year of Cultural Heritage.24

The heritage sector in Europe is facing many challenges. These include: decreasing public budgets; declining participation in traditional cultural activities; increasing environmental and physical pressures on heritage sites; transforming value chains and expectations as a result of the digital shift; and the illegal trafficking of cultural artefacts.

Against this backdrop, the main objective is to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities and highlight the role of the EU in promoting shared solutions.

CONTENT: it is proposed to designate the year 2018 as the ‘European Year of Cultural Heritage’.

Objectives : the European Year shall:

contribute to promoting the role of European cultural heritage as a pivotal component of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. It should highlight the best means to ensure its conservation and safeguarding and its enjoyment by a wider and more diversified public. This includes through audience development measures and heritage education, in full respect of the competences of the Member States, thereby promoting social inclusion and integration; enhance the contribution of European cultural heritage to the economy and the society, through its direct and indirect economic potential. This includes the capacity to underpin the cultural and creative industries and inspire creation and innovation, promote sustainable tourism, enhance social cohesion and generate long-term employment; contribute to promoting cultural heritage as an important element of the EU’s international dimension, building on the interest in partner countries for Europe’s heritage and expertise. Heritage plays a major role in several programmes in the area of external relations, mainly — but not exclusively — in the Middle East. The promotion of the value of cultural heritage is also a response to the deliberate destruction of cultural treasures in conflict zone.

Specific objectives are also laid down.

Measures : the proposal presents measures which will include information and promotion campaigns, events and initiatives at European, national, regional and local levels:

conferences, events and initiatives to promote debate and raise awareness of the importance and value of cultural heritage and to facilitate engagement with citizens and stakeholders; information, education and awareness-raising campaigns to convey values such as diversity and intercultural dialogue using evidence from Europe’s rich heritage and to stimulate the general public’s contribution in heritage protection and management and more generally in achieving the objectives of the European Year; sharing of experience and good practices of national, regional and local administrations, and other organisations, to disseminate information about cultural heritage; undertaking studies and research and innovation activities and the dissemination of their results on European or national scale.

Coordination at national level : each Member State shall appoint a national coordinator responsible for organising its participation in the European Year. The coordinator shall ensure the coordination of relevant activities at national level.

Coordination at Union level : the Commission shall convene meetings of the national coordinators in order to coordinate the running of the European Year and to exchange information regarding its implementation at national and European level.

International cooperation : the Commission shall cooperate with competent international organisations, in particular with UNESCO and the Council of Europe, while ensuring the visibility of the EU’s participation.

Funding : co-financing at European level of activities in support of the European Year shall be in accordance with the applicable rules, and within the existing possibilities for priority setting on an annual or multiannual basis, to existing programmes, in particular the Creative Europe programme. Where appropriate, other programmes and policies, within their existing legal and financial provisions, may also support the European Year.

Monitoring and evaluation : by 31 December 2019, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament, the Council on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the initiatives provided for in this Decision.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: no additional funding is sought for the European Year . This initiative does not require additional EU budget. The flexibility for setting priorities on an annual or multiannual basis in the relevant programmes is sufficient to envisage an awareness-raising campaign on a scale similar to previous European Years.