From Astra Museum of Traditional Folk Civilisation, Sibiu, Romania. Several of the museum buildings are restored with the help of EEA Grants. Foto: Reidun Vea © Riksantikvaren

Cultural heritage is frequently the product of contact between different countries and cross-border influences, and thus forms part of our common heritage. Today the safeguarding of cultural heritage is a global concern that demands international cooperation.

Norway is strongly engaged in international efforts in this field. The Directorate contributes to the implementation of the Government’s policy on environmental cooperation. This includes the protection and conservation of historical buildings, monuments and sites as well as institutional cooperation.

Projects with European countries take place both bilaterally and through organisations such as the European Council, the Council of the Baltic Sea States and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The Directorate has cooperated with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norwegian embassies on the protection of European cultural heritage through the EEA and Norway Grants. This has strengthened reciprocal contact with the newest EU member states.

Moreover, Norway has growing interests in countries such as the Ukraine, Georgia and Uzbekistan, and the Directorate is increasingly involved in partnership projects in these countries.

Respect and the reciprocal exchange of knowledge are the fundamental principles of international cooperation. It is vital that the Directorate observes how others manage and disseminate information about their cultural heritage, and notes the importance of historical buildings, monuments and sites as a resource for sustainable development both locally and globally.