The report states that endangered heritage and the lack of safeguards for it are of concern for many PACE member states. The factors that threaten heritage in Europe are neglect, institutional changes, large-scale urban development, conflict and post-conflict situations, natural disasters and conflicting policies.
The adopted report states that heritage conservation needs long-term integrated strategies and coherent policies including investment plans. At the same time, the parliamentarians believed it was essential to build a stronger link between education and heritage in order to engage people, especially young people, with their history and culture.
The parliamentarians called on PACE member states to sign, ratify and implement the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (the Faro Convention) and to mainstream heritage protection into decision-making in relation to planning and policy at national, regional and local levels.