Can culture save the EU?

A high-level conference titled ‘Cultural heritage in Europe: Linking past and future’ was recently held at the European Parliament in Brussels. Iggy Fenech shares his thoughts in its aftermath.

From Finland to Cyprus, and Ireland to Estonia, the European Union (EU) covers a tract of land that isn’t just vast but also home to many diverse peoples.

Each of those comes with its own tangible and intangible cultural heritage that helps the members of that community identify with their motherland and their ancestry, like language, food, music, religion, customs and dance. Yet, they are also things we can use to show how different we are from our neighbours, the immigrants living among us, or those who may somehow not fit in entirely.

With a backdrop that includes Brexit, mass migration and an influx of refugees coming from various countries, the idea of ‘the other’ can not only prove dangerous but also catastrophic. After all, the European dream of a united continent has always been more than just about open markets and freedom of movement. It is about the exchange of ideas, the building of relationships and a burning desire to not let Europe descend into war once again.

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