On March 30, 2026, Commissioner Micallef is in Rome to build financial support for multilateralism through culture and cultural heritage, as noted in the European Commission's official communication. Commissioner Micallef will meet the Director-General of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). This will be followed by a high-level dialogue with representatives of EU member states and third countries supporting ICCROM.
Commissioner Micallef will announce a €250,000 top-up of the READY project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme with €1.5 million, and implemented by ICCROM. This support aligns with the European Commission's commitment to supporting multilateralism through culture, as announced in the Culture Compass for Europe.
The READY project aims to enhance the resilience of Europe's cultural heritage against disasters, extreme weather events, and complex emergencies. The additional funding will support the project's work strand specifically dedicated to Ukraine and the strengthening of Ukraine's cultural heritage resilience.
Since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU has mobilised over €50 million in support of Ukraine's cultural and creative sectors and cultural heritage. The top-up of the READY project will also contribute towards the Team Europe approach for Cultural Heritage in Ukraine, which has so far brought together 76 actions from 24 Member States, alongside the initiatives of the European Commission.
