European Heritage Heads Forum gathered in Amsterdam for their yearly meeting. Photo: Reidun Vea © Riksantikvaren

There are many arenas for cooperation in the field of cultural heritage in the Nordic context. A number of topics form the basis for the exchange of experience and assessments, and projects are conducted under the auspices of the Nordic countries. These countries also play a part in the Baltic cooperation under the auspices of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, together with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Germany. The Directorate is represented in the Steering Group and participates in cultural heritage projects that are of joint interest in the Baltic Sea area.

The European Heritage Heads Forum is an informal network that brings together the heads of the European state heritage authorities to share ideas about the management of historic environments. Norway will attend this year's forum in Potsdam 23rd - 25th May and will be acting as hosts for the meeting in 2013.

Norway takes part in several EU programmes through the EEA Agreement.The Directorate is making active efforts to include Norwegian cultural heritage actors in European cooperation and research projects. We monitor developments in the EU and promote Norway’s interests and priorities in the field of cultural heritage. Contributions to the development of EU’s legislative acts and to European standards that are in the interests of cultural heritage protection in Norway constitute a major part of our work.

The EEA and Norway Grants is a collective term for Norway’s contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area. The Directorate promotes targeted efforts in the field of cultural heritage in the newest EU member states in connection with the EEA and Norway Grants. Spain, Portugal and Greece are also covered by the funding schemes. The Directorate acts as an expert adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, maintains contact with other European cultural heritage institutions and participates in cooperation programmes and projects that are funded through the EEA and Norway Grants.