European cultural heritage represents an invaluable shared asset that transcends national boundaries, reflecting the languages, histories, and artistic expressions of Europe’s diverse peoples. The European Cultural Convention of 1954 laid the foundations for the Council of Europe’s work. Now, in a rapidly digitalising world, Europe’s cultural treasures face new challenges, including illegal trafficking, deliberate destruction and the unwanted effects of technological change. This has given a new impetus to the organisation’s work to protect and safeguard intangible European cultural heritage to the highest standards, encouraging cross-border cooperation and sharing of innovative cultural policies.
