Following an initial proposal made by the European Commission in August 2016 and a subsequent agreement from the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers of the European Union agreed on 17 May to designate 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage. According to the Decision of the Council and the Parliament, the purpose of the European Year of Cultural Heritage shall be 'to encourage the sharing and appreciation of Europe's cultural heritage as a shared resource, to raise awareness of common history and values, and to reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space.' The general objectives of the European Year shall be to encourage and support the efforts of the Union, the Member States and regional and local authorities, in cooperation with the cultural heritage sector and broader civil society, to protect, safeguard, reuse, enhance, valorise and promote Europe's cultural heritage. Specific aims of the European Year of Cultural Heritage also include the following:

• encourage people to explore Europe's rich and diverse cultural heritage;
• celebrate, understand and protect its unique value; and
• reflect on the place that cultural heritage occupies in all our lives.

Activities conducted in the course of the Year should also place emphasis on how heritage builds stronger societies, creates jobs and prosperity, as well as its importance for Europe's relations with the rest of the world, and what can be done to protect it. Among the activities that are foreseen in this context are the following:

• initiatives and events to promote debate and raise awareness of the importance and value of cultural heritage;
• information, exhibitions, education and awareness-raising activities to convey values such as diversity and intercultural dialogue related to cultural heritage;
• sharing of experience and good practices of national, regional and local administrations and other organisations;
• the undertaking of studies and research and innovation activities and the dissemination of their results; and
• the promotion of projects and networks connected to the European year of Cultural Heritage.

A budget of EUR 8 million has been allocated for the implementation of the European Year of Cultural Heritage at EU level, between January 2017 and December 2018. In addition to the European Union, partners of the European Year of Cultural Heritage include UNESCO, the Council of Europe, ICCROM, ICOMOS, Europa Nostra and the Europeana project. For additional information about the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, and to register for regular e-mail updates, please visit https://ec.europa.eu/culture/european-year-cultural-heritage-2018_en