Pan-European federation Europa Nostra annual Congress in Lisbon
This year Europa Nostra annual event was held in Lisbon. The event was jointly organised by Europa Nostra and its Portuguese member organisation Centro Nacional de Cultura. For participants of the Congress was prepared a very rich and interesting program including visiting of the cultural heritage sites of Portugal, presentations of the best achievements in the field of the heritage preservation, as well as a forum and discussions on the most topical issues which are in the spotlight of the European community. The highlight of the Congress was the traditional European Heritage Award Ceremony which was held at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jeronimos Monastery.
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In 2012 a total of 226 awards dossiers were received, originating from 31 countries across Europe. In March names of winners of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards were officially announced. 28 achievements from 15 countries have been chosen for an Award. Of these, 6 winners were selected to receive a Grand Prix and a monetary reward of Euro 10,000.
Although one of the Russian entries – the project of revival of runa-singing Haikola Village in Viena Karelia — was not included in the final selection to receive an award, it was recognised and particularly appreciated by the Jury for the outstanding contribution and enhancement of European heritage.
The Awarding ceremony in the Jeronimos Monastery was timed to the 40th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The Gala Evening was open with performance of the Lisbon Children's Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Placido Domingo. With greeting speeches to participants of the Ceremony addressed H.E. Anibal Cavaco Silva, President of the Republic of Portugal, Maestro Placido Domingo, Europa Nostra's President, H.H. Prince Felipe of Asturias, and Mrs Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Sport, Media and Youth.
The Ceremony ended with a performance of the best representatives of the national musical style Fado and Gala dinner in honor of the winners.
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On the eve of the Awarding ceremony an important Forum on «Saving Europe's Endangered Heritage» was organised at the premises of the prestigious Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The main reports on the Forum were presented by Francesco Bandarin, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO, Bonnie Burnham, President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Monuments Fund, USA: «The Watch Experience», Simon Molesworth, Chairman of INTO, Australia, Isabel Raposo de Magalhres, Vice-President of the ICCROM Council.
On the last day of the Congress the General Assembly was held in the stunning historic setting of the Mafra Palace. Participants of the event were informed that in 2013 Europa Nostra will celebrate fifty years since its inception. The annual Congress and key events on this occasion will be organised in Athens and Brussels in June and the Autumn respectively.
Mr Denis de Kergorlay, Executive President of Europa Nostra, addressed to the participants of the Assembly with the closing speech. He expressed deep gratitude those members of the federation, who made a significant contribution in Europa Nostra activity. Among these organisations Mr de Kergorlay specifically mentioned the International Centre of the Roerichs, that actively supported Europa Nostra throughout a year.
