Message from Commissioner Šuica at the European Heritage Policy Agora 2026 - Heritage as the Soul of the Mare Nostrum

European Heritage Policy Agora 2026

Excellencies, distinguished guests, dear friends,

I would have liked to join you in person at the European Heritage Policy Agora 2026 but due to unavoidable institutional obligations I cannot be there with you.

You understand very well how our Mare Nostrum has never simply been only a sea.

Its unique history has made it a living space of exchange, trade, creativity, coexistence, and dialogue.

Across centuries, the Mediterranean connected Europe, North Africa, and the Levant through knowledge, culture, and human encounters.

Today, however, this shared space faces profound challenges: geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, environmental degradation, and the accelerating effects of climate change.

In this context, cultural heritage is not a luxury of the past. It is a strategic resource for the future.

This belief lies at the heart of the Pact for the Mediterranean and its Action Plan.

The Pact recognises culture and heritage as essential pillars for building resilient societies, fostering mutual understanding, and strengthening regional cooperation. Heritage can serve as a bridge in a unique and irreplaceable way. It can help restore trust, promote reconciliation, and reinforce the sense of shared responsibility that our region needs.

Heritage and sustainability are inseparable.

Coastal erosion, rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, and environmental deterioration threaten not only ecosystems, but also the cultural landscapes, historic sites, and living traditions that define the Mediterranean identity.

This is why we must fully integrate cultural heritage into climate action and green transformation policies. We must strengthen Euro-Mediterranean partnerships, support digital innovation in heritage preservation, and empower young people and local communities through skills, creativity, and cultural cooperation.

Cyprus offers a particularly meaningful setting for this discussion. Its history reflects both the pain of division and the enduring hope for reconciliation.

It reminds us that heritage can become a powerful instrument for peace-building and dialogue. It is a powerful instrument for sustainable tourism and job creation, for all generations.

Let us therefore reaffirm together that the soul of our Mare Nostrum lies not in what separates us, but in what we share. And let us ensure that cultural heritage remains a force for peace, resilience, sustainability, and human connection across the Mediterranean.

Thank you