ZAGREB, May 10, 2020 – Croatian Culture Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek took part on Saturday on the occasion of Europe Day in an online seminar co-organised by Europa Nostra and Europeana which addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cultural heritage.
Participants also discussed recovery prospects and the need for further action and defining policies at European level, the ministry said in a press release.
Obuljen Koržinek said the crisis affected the cultural and creative sectors, including cultural heritage, especially strongly.
Cultural heritage risk management has been one of the main topics of Croatia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in the field of culture, which gained new significance after the devastating Zagreb earthquake in late March, she added.
Numerous measures to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic have been taken at national level, and the Croatian presidency has been in contact with EU member states, international organisations and professional associations to gain better insight into the situation, difficulties and assistance measures at European level, the minister said.
She recalled that on April 30 the ministers of culture signed a declaration on the need to adopt an ambitious and sustainable response to facilitate a swift, effective and flexible recovery of the cultural and creative sectors.
The minister said the Council of Ministers would meet on May 19 to discuss ways to align the support system and cultural policies in the post-coronavirus period in the EU and nationally.
Participants in the seminar supported a joint statement which the organisations comprising he European Heritage Alliance have prepared with a view to putting cultural heritage in the centre of Europe’s recovery and revival.
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