Representatives from Europa Nostra, the Athens Heritage Hub, and ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET) participated in the third edition of the European Heritage Hub Forum, titled “EU Enlargement: Cultural Heritage as a Key Resource for Cities & Civil Society,” held in Budva, Montenegro, from April 3-4, 2025.
Focus on Cultural Heritage and Social Inclusion
The Forum focused on the critical intersection of sustainable development and social inclusion within the context of EU enlargement. Over the course of the two-day event, participants explored the essential role cultural heritage plays in promoting social cohesion, inclusion, reconciliation, education, and sustainable development. They also discussed how cultural heritage contributes to regional cooperation in the context of EU enlargement, with a special emphasis on the Western Balkans.
Sessions on April 3 provided a fresh perspective on how cultural heritage can be preserved and shared, highlighting its role in social integration alongside digital and environmental advancements. On April 4, policy discussions centered on the role of cultural heritage in fostering regional cooperation and development, emphasizing its importance in supporting the EU enlargement agenda.
The event, organized as part of the European Heritage Hub’s EU-funded pilot project and powered by ICLEI Europe and Europa Nostra, was supported by the Municipality of Budva, the Tourism Organisation of the Municipality of Budva, and the Bankada Foundation. The two-day gathering brought together cities, civil society organizations, heritage experts, and policymakers.
Event highlights include:
Panel Discussion 3: “Advocacy in Action – Civil Society as the Champion of Heritage-Driven Transformation” – April 3
Lydia Carras, President of ELLET and Chair of the Athens Heritage Hub, presented key initiatives and awareness campaigns from ELLET’s last 50 years. She shared valuable lessons on how civil society organizations can effectively advocate for heritage preservation while driving transformative change. The panel highlighted successful initiatives and collaborative strategies that leverage cultural heritage to foster green and digital advancements, ultimately creating inclusive pathways toward sustainable development.
Athens Hub Meeting with Local Civil Society Organisations – “Local initiatives to safeguard cultural heritage in Montenegro” – April 3
As part of the Athens Heritage Hub’s efforts to connect cultural heritage organizations in the region, a meeting was organized, bringing together 15 participants from seven local NGOs active in the field of cultural heritage.
The discussion was moderated by Stavroula Thravalou, Coordinator of the Athens Heritage Hub, and David Radovic, local facilitator of the Athens Hub in Montenegro. Local organizations, including Sveti Stefan nas Dom, EXPEDITIO, Zlatni Vez, the NGO Center for the Study and Protection of Cultural Heritage of Montenegro, the Association for Cultural Development BAUO, and NVO KOMPAS, presented their past and ongoing initiatives to safeguard local cultural heritage. They also exchanged ideas on how to amplify the impact of civil society advocacy for heritage preservation.
Participants expressed concerns about the negative effects of uncontrolled or unsuitable development projects in Montenegro, particularly the recently announced development plans for Ulcinj. They emphasized the need for collaboration in safeguarding cultural and natural heritage sites and the importance of advocacy at both the regional and international levels.
Ioanna Mikrou, Board Member of ELLET, and Mary Tziraki, urban planner and Spatial Planning Officer at ELLET, also contributed to the discussion, focusing on how activism drives sustainability, environmental justice, cultural preservation, and democratic engagement.
4th Heritage Dialogues – “Cultural Heritage for Empowering Communities: Civil Society and Activism in Safeguarding Europe’s Heritage.” – April 2
On the eve of the Forum, 2 April, the fourth edition of Heritage Dialogues focused on the vital role of local communities in safeguarding their cultural and natural heritage. The event featured successful campaigns led by activists and civil society organisations.
Mary Tziraki, officer for Spatial Planning in ELLET, presented the case of The Cycladic Islands, notably Sifnos, Serifos, and Folegandros, Greece (listed 7 Most Endangered 2024). She discussed the process of nominating the Cycladic Islands and ELLET’s strategic communication with local communities. Tziraki highlighted capacity-building initiatives aimed at empowering residents to resist economic pressures threatening the natural and cultural landscapes, as well as the social fabric of the Cyclades.
Blazo Kazanegra & Dijana Radjenovic presented efforts to safeguard the cultural landscape of Sveti Stefan in Montenegro, which is threatened by uncontrolled overdevelopment, restricting the local community access to their own cultural heritage (7 Most Endangered 2023). Vesna Marjanovic, from Evropa Nostra Srbija, spoke about the widespread mobilization to safeguard the Generalštab Modernist Complex in Belgrade, an iconic symbol of the city’s modernist architectural heritage, from demolition (7 Most Endangered 2025).
“In all three cases, their activism goes beyond the protection of CulturalHeritage – it is a fight for the rule of law; for human rights; for showing that heritage matters to local communities, and that their voice must be heard. Ultimately, this is about defending one of the fundamental values upon which the European Union was built” mentioned Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra & Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub.
Booklet – European Heritage Hub Forum – Budva _ 3-4 April 2025
Agenda Athens Hub meeting_Budva
