Brussels, 20th January 2021
Members of the European Parliament gathered this week for this year’s first plenary session in Brussels. The plenary agenda includes a debate and vote on the report on the effective policy legacy for the European Year of Cultural Heritage.
Member of the European Parliament and member of the Committee for Culture and Education Željana Zovko welcomed this report that calls for additional funding for the recovery of cultural and creative sectors and recognises the value that cultural heritage has in our lives. The report also emphasises the need for a broader access to digitalised cultural heritage, and stresses the importance of all types of education related to cultural heritage.
The current corona pandemic affected the cultural sector severely. Since the beginning of the crisis, Zovko has been vocal on the needs to assist cultural and creative industries. She stressed the importance of securing an adequate budget, especially for the promotion and protection of cultural heritage:
„In the past months we have seen the devastating effect that COVID-19 on the cultural and creative sector. Cultural heritage is an invaluable part of our identity that reflects our common European values and therefore we need to ensure a lasting policy and sufficient funding in the upcoming years.“ Zovko said.
MEP Zovko is actively involved in promoting cultural heritage of Croatia in the European Parliament. She organised several events in the European Parliament where she highlighted the beauties of Croatia, in particular of Dalmatia, Istria and Central Croatia. She also hosted a conference on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of UNESCO in Croatia. Recently, she managed to secure the possibility to extend the status of last year’s European Capitals of Culture Rijeka and Galway until the end of April 2021.