The protection of cultural rights and cultural heritage is among our key priorities, Deputy Minister of Culture, Vasiliki Kassianidou, said in her opening remarks at the informal meeting of European Union Culture Ministers, on Tuesday, at the Philoxenia Conference Centre, in Nicosia.
Kassianidou thanked her counterparts ‘for the successful outcome of the discussions and consultations in the Agora EU programme which led to the adoption of the partial general approach at our Council in Brussels last month’.
Furthermore, she said that, as a result of the discussion and negotiation in the Committee on Cultural Affairs, a provisional agreement was reached in the interinstitutional political debate held on 18 May in Strasbourg on the joint declaration ‘Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe’, adding that the joint declaration will be signed by the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Republic of Cyprus on behalf of the European Council, in June in Strasbourg.
Referring to the topics of the Informal Summit, she noted that ‘they are interrelated, since they concern our common responsibility to preserve culture as a living expression of human creativity, but also cultural heritage, which is under threat’.
Subsequently, the Deputy Minister of Culture stressed that ‘the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union recognises the key role of culture in safeguarding European values and therefore the protection of cultural rights and cultural heritage is among our key priorities’. ‘Cultural creation strengthens the resilience of European democracies and contributes to the protection and promotion of the values of the European Union, promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, creativity and free democratic dialogue,’ she pointed out.
In this context, she underlined, ‘the Presidency places particular emphasis on the protection of cultural rights, continuing the discussion that took place within the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of MED-9, which resulted in the declaration on cultural rights, which was drafted with the assistance of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights, Professor Alexandra Xanthakis.’
At the same time, Kassianidou stated that ‘the Cyprus Presidency seeks to empower creators and support audiovisual media and civil society, as rapid technological developments, such as productive artificial intelligence, are reshaping creative expression and cultural production.’
‘When it comes to protecting cultural property in the age of artificial intelligence, the approach must be focused on people, as highlighted in the 2025 report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights, Professor Alexandra Xanthakis,’ she stressed.
‘Transparency in the training data of artificial intelligence systems is a necessary condition. Also, the diversity and meaningful participation of different individuals and communities in shaping the technological future must be ensured at European level,’ Kassianidou noted.
‘The basis of the legislative framework has already been laid with the recent regulation on artificial intelligence and the regulation on digital services. Accountability and transparency in the online environment have been strengthened, in order to achieve full, full respect for the fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,’ she added.
‘In parallel, with the ”Cultural Compass for Europe” initiative, a specific strategy for artificial intelligence in the cultural and creative sectors is being prepared, with the aim of ensuring that technology will function in support of and not as a substitute for human creation’, she pointed out.
Consequently, the Deputy Minister noted, “our duty is clear, to shape public policies that enhance human creativity, prevent the homogenization of expression and preserve artistic freedom, ensuring that artificial intelligence remains a tool at the service of man.’
At the same time, she said that ‘we also place emphasis on the protection of cultural heritage, focusing on combating the illegal trafficking of cultural goods.”
“The illicit trafficking of cultural goods directly threatens cultural identity and heritage, as cultural heritage is not just an asset but also a vehicle of memory, an element of identity and the foundation of a sense of belonging,’ she pointed out.
‘In times of armed conflict, the destruction of cultural heritage is carried out in a targeted and deliberate manner not only because of the great economic benefits from the illicit trade in antiquities, but also for ideological reasons,’ she said.
‘Looting, illegal excavations and the trafficking of cultural goods have unfortunately become an integral part of all modern conflicts, in Cyprus after the Turkish invasion 52 years ago, and more recently in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine,’ she added.
‘The illicit trafficking and sale of cultural goods is used to finance criminal networks, circumvent sanctions, launder proceeds from illegal activities and systematically alter or erase national or religious identities,’ Kassianidou said.
‘The international community has recognised these risks and has developed important legal tools; however, challenges remain. Even today, illegally acquired works continue to be channeled into legitimate art markets,’ she pointed out.
In this light, she continued, ‘we are called upon to examine how due diligence procedures can be strengthened and how technological innovations can be used responsibly to enhance research into the provenance of cultural goods and cooperation between competent authorities.’
“In a period of geopolitical uncertainty, technological transformations and shifting international balances, Europe has a particular responsibility,” the Cypriot Deputy Minister said.
“The richness of our cultural diversity, the strength of our institutions and our steadfast commitment to human rights demand that we play a leading role. By placing cultural rights at the heart of the governance of artificial intelligence and by strengthening our action against the illicit trafficking of cultural goods, we reaffirm that culture is a foundation of our European identity and democracy,” she concluded.