Over four days, more than 700 participants gathered for a series of events that showcased heritage excellence, ignited key policy discussions and allowed us to reflect on Europe’s shared heritage as well as its cultural roots and values. The choice of Brussels as the host city for this year’s Summit was crucial as the European Commission will soon publish the EU’s very first Culture Compass for Europe and when negotiations around the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) have kicked off.
In the context of this pivotal moment for culture at the European level, the Summit was the perfect occasion to highlight the political, societal, economic and environmental relevance of heritage for the future of Europe and its citizens, under the motto “Heritage Matters for Europe”.
European Heritage Hub Forum “Heritage Matters for Europe’s Cities and Citizens”
On 14 October, the Athens Heritage Hub took part in the European Heritage Hub Forum”Heritage Matters for Europe’s Cities and Citizens” at the Brussels Town Hall. The first in-person event of the EU-funded Hub Preparatory Action brought together over 200 participants. Organised by Europa Nostra with the support of the European Commission and the City of Brussels, the Forum convened high-level speakers and stakeholders to advocate for placing cultural heritage at the center of the upcoming EU Culture Compass.
Key speakers like Hermann Parzinger (Europa Nostra), Philippe Close (Mayor of Brussels), and Normunds Popens (European Commission) stressed heritage’s role in democracy, inclusion, and sustainability.
The panels discussed:
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Aligning funding instruments (Culture Compass, MFF) with community needs — including the role of AI, heritage‑rights and civil society.
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The role of local authorities and civil society in sustainable tourism, heritage investment, and regional cohesion.
The speakers highlighted that culture and heritage should be treated as mainstream priorities, not niche topics. They called for stronger collaboration between cities, citizens, civil society, and EU institutions, and for increased funding and youth‑inclusion in the heritage sector.
A delegation of European Heritage Hub partners met with European Commissioner Glenn Micallef, on 15 October at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, to present the key outcomes of the European Heritage Hub Forum held the previous day. The forum sent a strong message ahead of the EU’s next budget cycle and policy frameworks: if cultural heritage is integrated effectively, it can contribute significantly to social cohesion, democratic renewal and sustainable development.
More information on the Hub Forum: here
Watch the video recording
More information on the meeting with the European Commissioner Glenn Michallef: here
European Heritage Awards 2025: Celebrating Europe’s Best Heritage Projects
A highlight of the Summit was the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards Ceremony, held on 13 October at Flagey, Brussels. During the evening, 600 heritage professionals, volunteers and stakeholders from across Europe gathered to applaud the laureates. Among the 30 national winners selected from 24 countries, five were awarded the Grand Prix, each receiving a €10,000 monetary prize. The five laureates of the Grand Prix 2025 are Antwerp City Hall (Belgium), Glacier Archaeology Programme – Secrets of the Ice (Norway), Pro Monumenta – Preventive Maintenance of Monuments (Slovakia), Hedgehog’s Home – Inventing a Better World (Serbia), and Inge Bisgaard (Greenland / Denmark). The Public Choice Award 2025 went to the restoration of the Puerta de Alcalá in Madrid (Spain).
We are especially proud to celebrate the success of Greece, with the Kambones 1615 Historic House (Naxos) receiving a prestigious award in the Conservation & Adaptive Reuse category. This project stands out for its sustainable approach, traditional craftsmanship, and commitment to community engagement and heritage reuse. The local event for celebrating the Award is scheduled in October 25 in Naxos.
The Athens Heritage Hub was represented by Charis Doukas, Mayor of Athens, and Stavroula Thravalou, Coordinator of the Athens Heritage Hub. Their presence reinforced the Hub’s commitment to promoting collaborative action for cultural heritage in the Balkans and beyond.
Distinguished high-level European and national representatives made powerful statements on why heritage matters for Europe during the Awards Ceremony, namely European Commissioner Glenn Micallef; Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra; Sabine Verheyen, First Vice-President of the European Parliament; Ans Persoons, Secretary of State of the Brussels-Capital Region for Urban Planning, Heritage, European and International Relations; and HRH Princess Dana Firas, ICOMOS Vice-President, President of Petra National Trust, Chair of INTO and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage. Important congratulatory written or audiovisual messages were also conveyed by Cecilia Bartoli, President of Europa Nostra, who paid tribute to all the winners of the Awards; Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, who honoured the accomplishments of Varvara Buzilă, winner of a Europa Nostra Award 2025 in the category Heritage Champions; and Herman Van Rompuy, Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Theophano Foundation, who congratulated Europa Nostra on winning the prestigious Empress Theophano Prize 2025, which will be awarded to the organisation on 6 November in Thessaloniki, Greece.
More information and video of the Award Ceremony: here
The Booklet of the Summit 2025: 2025-Summit-Booklet
