site.btaEU Should Have Clear Common Policy on Cultural and Historical Heritage - Expert

January 20 (BTA) - The European Union lacks a common policy on cultural and historical heritage, Lyudmil Vagalinski, chair of the Bulgarian Limes Commission and archaeologist at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, told BTA. He was speaking in response to a question whether stronger EU presence was called for in member country cultural and historical policies prior to a conference titled "Cultural Heritage" to be hosted by the BTA Press Club in Vidin (on the Danube) on January 21.

A common EU policy is needed, as in Bulgaria, for example, those who design the policy in the field of culture should refer to the relevant specialists on time. Currently, there is a tendency of systematic improvisation and haphazard campaigning, without cooperation between neighboring municipalities, to say nothing of countries, Vagalinski said.

Although even now the European resources are quite abundant, Bulgaria fails to avail itself to the full. The EU is not a magic wand, Vagalinski says.

The Danube limes is an attempt to overcome previous fractioned drawbacks.

It would be helpful if the EU devises a manual of innovative techniques and technologies for preserving and popularizing cultural heritage. As an example, Vagalinski said that the European Archaeological Council, where he represents Bulgaria as a member of the Board, drafts manuals in archaeology.

The lack of common European legislation presupposes "piecemeal" online access to cultural and historical landmarks. Large-scale ambitious projects have already been implemented in the EU, others, like ARIADNEplus, are currently under way. They all have the same problem of who will maintain the e-platform/infrastructure after a project is completed.

The EU is slowly heading towards the adoption of stricter common rules against illegal trafficking of cultural and historical heritage, Vagalinski said. In Bulgaria, treasure hunting is a scourge for archaeological sites, particularly those along the Danube.

The Bulgarian Limes Commission is preparing the country's part for its joint application with Croatia, Serbia and Romania to include the eastern segment of the Danube Limes in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Work on the voluminous documentation should be completed in 2023 and the official application is up to the four governments, Vagalinski said.

At this point, Bulgaria has proposed the inclusion of 32 sites in the list.

The Danubian Limes, or Danube Limes, refers to the Roman military frontier or limes which lies along the River Danube in the present-day German state of Bavaria, in Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.

In 2021, the western segment of the Danube Limes were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the set of "Frontiers of the Roman Empire" World Heritage Sites.