Policy Monitor – Page 2 – European Heritage Hub

Proposal for a Regulation on nature restoration

22 June 2022

The propose legislation presents an in-depth analysis of a proposal aimed at contributing to the continuous recovery of biodiverse and resilient natural ecosystems across the EU’s land and sea areas. The proposal aims to improve the quality of the environment in line with the principle of sustainable development, laid down in Article 37 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Through the restoration of ecosystems, the document outlines a detailed framework in which Member States will be required to protect, conserve and restore habitats, water bodies, and

European Parliament resolution on the role of culture, education, media and sport in the fight against racism

8 March 2022

Culture, education, media, and sport are crucial in fighting systemic racism and promote a more inclusive society in Europe. The European Parliament resolution of 8 March 2022 (2021/2057(INI)) highlights that European societies are home to increasing cultural diversity and a growing share of foreign-born populations and their descendants, however on the other hand racism systematically exists in all areas of our daily life and can take many forms. The text calls on the Commission and the Member States and offers recommendations to recognize and counteract the systemic racism, such as:

Commission Study on Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence Technologies for the Cultural and Creative Sectors

1 February 2022

This study identifies opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) for the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS), including museums and cultural heritage. It also suggests actions for stakeholders and policymakers. Regarding museums and cultural heritage, the study identifies at least three opportunities brought by AI: 1) Enhancing archival, cataloguing, and information management applications; 2) Enhancing audience engagement activities; and 3) Managing visitor experiences. Among the challenges facing our sector, the study identifies several key issues: a lack of skills and knowledge necessary to adopt these technologies, internal biases within

European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade

23 January 2022

Heritage professionals and enthusiasts should take note of this significant development in digital transformation. The EU ‘Lisbon Declaration – Digital Democracy with a Purpose’ sets out a trajectory for the digital transformation of society, economy, and even the environment. It focuses on putting people at the center and empowering individuals while advancing innovative businesses. One of the interesting aspects of this declaration is the emphasis on utilizing technology to address climate change concerns and protect the environment. However, the document is not limited to environmental concerns as it also highlights

Vedtekter for Svalbards miljøvernfond (Articles of Association for the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund)

22 December 2021

This legislation sets out the mandate and scope of Svalbard’s Environmental Protection Fund, established under the 2001 Act on environmental protection in the archipelago. The fund aims to contribute to the protection and preservation of Svalbard’s unique natural environment, through the allocation of resources to projects that support this objective. The fund, managed by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, receives its funding from a portion of the environmental tax levied on tourists visiting Svalbard. The legislation also outlines the governance structure of the fund, including the appointment of

European Commission Recommendation of 10.11.2021 on a common European data space for cultural heritage C(2021) 7953 final

10 November 2021

The Recommendation outlines the scope of, goals and ambitions for the common European data space for cultural heritage to accelerate the digitisation of cultural heritage, in line with the European strategy for data. It invites EU Member States to set clear digitisation and digital preservation goals and sets indicative targets for content contribution to Europeana and the data space. Notably, it encourages Member States to digitise in 3D all monuments and sites deemed at risk and 50 % of the most physically visited cultural and heritage monuments, buildings and sites

Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the Just Transition Fund

24 June 2021

This legislation establishes the Just Transition Fund which aims to address the socio-economic and environmental costs of achieving a climate-neutral and circular economy. In the pursuit of limiting temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, the Union will concentrate its funding on green objectives. The transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy is a priority for the European Union, and this legislation is part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan that dedicates financing to the Just Transition Mechanism. The Just Transition Fund recognizes that not all regions and Member

Regulation on amending the Union Civil Protection Mechanism

26 May 2021

This law outlines decisions made in the European Union (EU) with regards to the Union Mechanism to deal with natural and man-made disasters. The focus of these decisions is to ensure protection and promote solidarity between Member States through practical cooperation and coordination. While individual Member States maintain the primary responsibility for protecting people, the environment, property, and cultural heritage against disasters, the Union Mechanism will provide support and cover a wide range of disasters. This includes environmental disasters, radiological disasters, marine pollution, hydrogeological instability, acute health emergencies, and the

Porto Santo Charter: Culture and the Promotion of Democracy: Towards a European Cultural Citizenship

25 April 2021

The Porto Santo Conference, an initiative under the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, introduces the Porto Santo Charter as a guiding framework for cultural democracy in Europe. Addressed to policymakers at various levels, cultural and educational organisations, and European citizens, the Charter aims to emphasise the cultural sector’s impact on strengthening democracy, aligning with the goals outlined in the Action Plan for European Democracy. In response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Charter recognises the transformative power of culture in achieving common objectives

Carta do Porto Santo: A cultura e a promoção da democracia: para uma cidadania cultural europe (Porto Santo Charter: Culture and the promotion of democracy: towards a European cultural citizenship)ia