Europa Nostra

Pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage

Published: 11 September 2009 Modified: 19 July 2010

Set up in 1963, Europa Nostra, the Pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, has grown to be the representative platform for more than 250 heritage non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active throughout Europe.

It is the voice of European civil society active in the field of heritage towards international bodies, in particular the European Union institutions, the Council of Europe and UNESCO.

Europa Nostra aims to place heritage and its benefits in the mainstream of public consciousness and to make heritage a priority for public policy both at European and national levels. Its specific objectives are to promote, at a European level, high standards of quality in the fields of heritage conservation, architecture and urban and rural planning and to advocate balanced and sustainable development for urban and rural areas.

Preservation and rescue

Europa Nostra supports national and international campaigns for the preservation and rescue of Europe’s heritage at risk. It encourages exemplary initiatives in conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage by recognising outstanding heritage achievements, in particular through the running of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. During 2006 and 2007, Europa Nostra acted as Liaison Office for the co-ordination of the 'European Heritage Days', a joint campaign by the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

Cultural heritage

Through its various activities, Europa Nostra seeks to highlight the importance of cultural heritage as a building block of European identity and as a contribution to the strengthening of the sense of European citizenship.

Europa Nostra has had a bond with The Hague for many years. Since 1990 the organisation has had an office on the Lange Voorhout. Today Europa Nostra employs a staff of 10.

For additional information, please visit the website of Europa Nostra: www.europanostra.org.