Cultural Heritage in the European Union. A Critical Inquiry into Law and Policy

The book provides a critical analysis of the laws and policies which address cultural heritage throughout Europe, considering them in light o the current challenges faced by the Union. It examines the matrix of organizational and regulatory frameworks concerned with cultural heritage both in the Union and in the Member States, as well as their interaction, cross-fertilization and possible overlaps. The volume brings together experts in their respective fields, not only legal but also cultural economists, heritage professionals, government representatives, and historians. The diverse backgrounds of the authors offer a cross-disciplinary approach and a variety of views which allows an in-depth scrutinization of the latest developments pertaining to cultural heritage in Europe

Final Conclusions

The contribution addresses and comments the results of a legal and policy analysis of cultural heritage law in the European Union, considering the linkages between international and human rights law, EU and Member States' law, the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as social and economic perspectives of sustainable development at EU level. It stresses a series go new frontiers in the legal protection of cultural heritage that will need to be addressed in the future by policy makers and legislators both at the EU and Member States' level, and indicates a series of recommendations to improve coherence and effectiveness of cultural heritage protection in the EU area

Introduction

The Contribution addresses the cultural, technical and policy background in which the topic of the book is placed. It presents the different legal layers governing the law of cultural property at the European regional level, considering the linkages between international and human rights law, EU law, Member State's law, as well as between positive law, policy approaches and cultural practices developing in societ(y/ies). It then presents the topics of the contribution underlining how they are linked one with another to address present issues and future challenges regarding cultural heritage governance in the EU