Greece – EU Culture Ministers Call for Protection of Ukraine Heritage

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and her EU counterparts are calling for the protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage under the Declaration of the European Ministers Responsible for Culture, Audiovisual and Media in Support of Ukraine.

In an informal meeting in France, this week, Europe’s ministers responsible for culture, audiovisual and media expressed solidarity with Ukraine and its people, and their fight for freedom, sovereignty and independence and signed the declaration, which among others highlights their support for Ukrainian artists, journalists, and cultural and media professionals, and expresses their readiness to assist them together with their international partners.

In her presentation, Mendoni said “Greece unequivocally condemns the unprovoked and unjustified aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine”.

“We express our support for Ukraine, reiterating our unequivocal solidarity with the Ukrainian people against Russia’s aggression. Freedom, self-determination and democracy are principles on which the foundations of the European Union are based, but also constants of our common European identity and our culture,” she said.

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot

Mendoni went on to express concern for artists and cultural professionals, as well as for journalists on the battlefield. “Greece wishes and supports the cooperation of EU member states for the protection of professionals in culture and for the restoration of Ukraine’s cultural heritage. We will be present,” she added.

The ministers committed to exchanging, combining their efforts and sharing best practices in order to stand in solidarity with and welcome Ukrainian artists, journalists and cultural and media professionals, and assess ways forward regarding cultural cooperation.

They also pledged to support institutions willing to host Ukrainian artists, journalists and cultural and media professionals, in order to allow them to continue their activity and thus preserve their freedom of creation and expression.

The declaration foresees support for all media and journalists who are covering the ongoing military aggression against Ukraine in an independent and impartial manner, and stressed the need for guaranteeing their physical protection.

The ministerσ agreed on the need to safeguard Ukraine’s cultural heritage, and highlighted the dangers and damage it faces affirming their willingness to support preservation, in collaboration with the relevant international organizations and partners.

Lastly, the ministers reaffirmed their support for the use of any available European program and framework relevant in the fields of culture, audiovisual and media, and in particular Creative Europe, for artists, journalists, and cultural and media professionals who are impacted by war activities.