European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage

Europa Nostras President, HRH the Prince Consort of Denmark, and Mr Harald Hartung, Head of Culture Unit at the Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission, presented the awards to 38 laureates from 21 countries across Europe. Five top monetary prizes of 10,000 were awarded, in addition to thirteen Medals and twenty Diplomas for a series of exemplary achievements throughout Europe.

The monetary prizes were awarded to:
- The Hill Church of Sighisoara, Transylvania (Romania) Architectural Heritage Category
- The Heathland Centre, Lygra (Norway) Cultural Landscapes Category
- Varusschlacht im Osnabrücker Land Museum und Park, Kalkriese (Germany), Archaeological Sites Category
- Strategies for Environmental Quality and Energy Efficiency in Museum Buildings (Italy) Studies in the field of Cultural heritage Category
- Judge Maurice Caruana Curran (Malta) Dedicated Service to Heritage Conservation Category

The European Heritage Awards Scheme was launched in 2002 by the European Commission, as part of the implementation of the EU Culture 2000 Programme. Europa Nostra was selected to run this Awards Scheme, on the basis of its long experience in publicly recognising on a European level individual or joint excellence in the heritage field. The aims of this Scheme are twofold: to promote high standards and quality skills of conservation practice and to stimulate the trans-frontier exchanges in the heritage field.

"This Awards Scheme recognises the skills required to ensure the quality of heritage conservation in an enlarged Europe and is indicative of the support and partnership between the European Commission and cultural heritage practitioners across Europe who protect our historic environment throughout Europe. Support for protecting cultural heritage is instrumental in reaching out to the new Member States with their rich and diverse cultural heritage, which constitutes an enrichment for the Union," said Ján Figel', Member of the European Commission responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism. "I heartily congratulate the laureates for their achievements and for their contribution to protecting our collective culture, without which we would not be able to experience our collective history and without which our continent would be a less beautiful place," he concluded.

Europa Nostras President, HRH The Prince Consort of Denmark, added "I can only be delighted that the new European Commission has publicly committed itself to support the reinforcement of the cultural dimension of European integration. Programmes such as the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the visibility of this goal. I look forward to the future development of this programme, which celebrates the excellence and know-how of the numerous cultural heritage operators throughout our continent, and which encourages the exchange of knowledge and best practices at a European level."


Details of all winning projects are available on http://www.europanostra.org/lang_en/0260_activities_winners_2004_en_eu_awards_.html