Bruxelles, 6 October 2019. A meeting of the European National Committees of the Blue Shield just ended in the Belgian Capital
Photo credits © Valentina Sabucco, 2019
The meeting represented a unique opportunity for representatives of BS national committees from various European countries and other stakeholders to exchange the experience made in the implementation of their work plans, to assess the achievements registered so far as well as the contingencies faced or preventing the complete though gradual implementation of the 1954 UNESCO Convention of The Hague for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, its two additional protocols and the related international law.
During the three days event visits to heritage listed sites took place in the historic city of Bruxelles and these also included the unique conservation laboratories of the KIK IRPA (Institut Royal du Patrimoine Artistique) located in the Park Cinquantenaire, where the meeting was hosted for most of its duration.
Photo credits © Valentina Sabucco, 2019
Co-organised by Blue Shield Austria and Blue Shield Belgium, the meeting opened with a welcome presentation by Mme H. De Clercq, Director of KIK-IRPA the works continued reaching a clue with an exhaustive report issued by Prof. Peter Stone, Blue Shield International. Also the President of the Blue Shield International, Karl von Habsburg addressed the participants with an updating on the Blue Shield international latest developments. Other affairs of global interest looking at the European experience were discussed at the meeting with several interesting proposal for reasonably attainable future results.
WATCH Secretary General participated to the meeting contributing to the debate and exchanges of ideas for future developments especially looking at the future challenges for the Blue Shield in its wider statutory commitment aimed at the definition and implementation of policies for the protection of cultural property at risk according to the relevant international law.