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EUROPE'S SEVEN MOST ENDANGERED MONUMENTS AND SITES ANNOUNCED: EUROPA NOSTRA
Art Daily
June 12 2013
ATHENS.- The Roman amphitheatre in Durrės in Albania, the buffer zone
in the historic centre of Nicosia in Cyprus, Vauban's 17th century
fortifications in Briancon in France, the Renaissance monastery of
San Benedetto Po in Italy, the 15th century monastery in Setśbal in
Portugal, the historic mining landscape of Rosia Montana in Romania
and the Armenian church of St. George in Mardin in Turkey have been
selected as the 7 most threatened landmarks in Europe. The announcement
was made today by the leading European heritage organisation Europa
Nostra, together with the European Investment Bank Institute, at
a press conference in Athens, on the eve of its 50th Anniversary
Congress. These gems of Europe's cultural and natural heritage are
in danger, some due to lack of funds or expertise, others due to
inadequate planning, neglect, natural disaster or even political
conflict. Urgent action is therefore required.
"These monuments and sites were selected not only because they tell
a fascinating story about our shared past, anchoring the sense of
belonging to a European family, but also because they are highly
valuable to the local communities who are strongly engaged in saving
them. Rescuing these sites would also act as a catalyst for the social
and economic revitalisation of entire cities or areas. This is why
Europa Nostra calls upon many public and private partners, at local,
national and European levels, to join forces with them to ensure a
promising future for the selected sites," stated Placido Domingo,
President of Europa Nostra.
"Investment in heritage conservation contributes to sustainable
development and ultimately to growth and employment through its
positive impacts on the local and regional economies. Support to
heritage conservation therefore falls well within the remit of the
European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB Institute, together with Europa
Nostra and associated partners, will undertake the necessary efforts
to assess the selected sites and to contribute to the development
of realistic action plans, in close cooperation with the national
and local public and private entities," added Remy Jacob, Director
General of the EIB and Dean of the EIB Institute.
Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute, founding
partner of 'The 7 Most Endangered' programme, will undertake rescue
missions to these heritage sites after the summer. More specifically,
experts appointed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council
of Europe Development Bank (CEB), an associate partner, will provide
analysis and advice on how funding could be obtained, for example,
through European Union funds or, in appropriate cases, loans.
The initial rescue action plans will be presented at the European
Heritage Policy Conference, organised by Europa Nostra, in Brussels
on 5 December 2013.
"For 50 years, Europa Nostra has been active in saving endangered
heritage all over Europe, from the ancient site of Delphi in Greece
in the early 1980s to the historic city of L'Aquila in Italy in
the 2010s. We are proud that this year, for the first time, we have
launched an advocacy and operational scheme in partnership with such a
prestigious financial institution as the European Investment Bank. Our
alliance demonstrates the recognition by the EU Institutions of their
responsibility towards safeguarding Europe's cultural heritage,
as stated in the Treaty of Lisbon (article 3.3). We expect that
'The 7 Most Endangered' programme will encourage others to support
our efforts to rescue and promote the unique heritage of Europe,"
concluded Denis de Kergorlay, Executive President of Europa Nostra.
The 7 Most Endangered for 2013 were selected by Europa Nostra's
Board from the 14 sites shortlisted by an Advisory Panel composed
of international experts. In this initial year, civil society
organisations and public bodies from 21 European countries submitted
40 nominations. 'The 7 Most Endangered' programme was launched last
January, having been inspired by a successful project run by the
US National Trust for Historic Preservation. Nominations for 2014
can be submitted until 1 November 2013 by Europa Nostra's country
representations, member and associate organisations.
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=63219#.UboeA-fI3p8
Art Daily
June 12 2013
ATHENS.- The Roman amphitheatre in Durrės in Albania, the buffer zone
in the historic centre of Nicosia in Cyprus, Vauban's 17th century
fortifications in Briancon in France, the Renaissance monastery of
San Benedetto Po in Italy, the 15th century monastery in Setśbal in
Portugal, the historic mining landscape of Rosia Montana in Romania
and the Armenian church of St. George in Mardin in Turkey have been
selected as the 7 most threatened landmarks in Europe. The announcement
was made today by the leading European heritage organisation Europa
Nostra, together with the European Investment Bank Institute, at
a press conference in Athens, on the eve of its 50th Anniversary
Congress. These gems of Europe's cultural and natural heritage are
in danger, some due to lack of funds or expertise, others due to
inadequate planning, neglect, natural disaster or even political
conflict. Urgent action is therefore required.
"These monuments and sites were selected not only because they tell
a fascinating story about our shared past, anchoring the sense of
belonging to a European family, but also because they are highly
valuable to the local communities who are strongly engaged in saving
them. Rescuing these sites would also act as a catalyst for the social
and economic revitalisation of entire cities or areas. This is why
Europa Nostra calls upon many public and private partners, at local,
national and European levels, to join forces with them to ensure a
promising future for the selected sites," stated Placido Domingo,
President of Europa Nostra.
"Investment in heritage conservation contributes to sustainable
development and ultimately to growth and employment through its
positive impacts on the local and regional economies. Support to
heritage conservation therefore falls well within the remit of the
European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB Institute, together with Europa
Nostra and associated partners, will undertake the necessary efforts
to assess the selected sites and to contribute to the development
of realistic action plans, in close cooperation with the national
and local public and private entities," added Remy Jacob, Director
General of the EIB and Dean of the EIB Institute.
Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute, founding
partner of 'The 7 Most Endangered' programme, will undertake rescue
missions to these heritage sites after the summer. More specifically,
experts appointed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council
of Europe Development Bank (CEB), an associate partner, will provide
analysis and advice on how funding could be obtained, for example,
through European Union funds or, in appropriate cases, loans.
The initial rescue action plans will be presented at the European
Heritage Policy Conference, organised by Europa Nostra, in Brussels
on 5 December 2013.
"For 50 years, Europa Nostra has been active in saving endangered
heritage all over Europe, from the ancient site of Delphi in Greece
in the early 1980s to the historic city of L'Aquila in Italy in
the 2010s. We are proud that this year, for the first time, we have
launched an advocacy and operational scheme in partnership with such a
prestigious financial institution as the European Investment Bank. Our
alliance demonstrates the recognition by the EU Institutions of their
responsibility towards safeguarding Europe's cultural heritage,
as stated in the Treaty of Lisbon (article 3.3). We expect that
'The 7 Most Endangered' programme will encourage others to support
our efforts to rescue and promote the unique heritage of Europe,"
concluded Denis de Kergorlay, Executive President of Europa Nostra.
The 7 Most Endangered for 2013 were selected by Europa Nostra's
Board from the 14 sites shortlisted by an Advisory Panel composed
of international experts. In this initial year, civil society
organisations and public bodies from 21 European countries submitted
40 nominations. 'The 7 Most Endangered' programme was launched last
January, having been inspired by a successful project run by the
US National Trust for Historic Preservation. Nominations for 2014
can be submitted until 1 November 2013 by Europa Nostra's country
representations, member and associate organisations.
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=63219#.UboeA-fI3p8