First European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018

	Member states ambassadors endorsed today the provisional agreement reached on 9 February 2016 between Council and European Parliament representatives on a decision establishing a European Year of Cultural Heritage (2018) which will celebrate the diversity and richness of our European culture. This initiative also aims to raise awareness of European history and values and to strengthen a sense of European identity. At the same time, it draws attention to the opportunities offered by our cultural heritage, but also to the challenges it faces, such as the impact of the digital shift, environmental and physical pressure on heritage sites, and the illicit trafficking of cultural objects.