A guided tour in the city of Bruges and informal diner will be offered on the evening of Wednesday 8th December. The conference on Thursday December 9th will conclude with a reception and a nocturne of the exhibition 'Van Eyck to Dürer'.
For more background information on the conference, click here.
Programme
Moderator: Joris Scheers, Head patrimonial policy, Flemish Government
9:00 AM: Reception and registration
9:30 AM: Welcoming address by the Belgian Presidency
Geert Bourgeois, Vice-Minister-President of the Flemish Government,
Flemish Minister for Administrative Affairs, Local and Provincial Government,
Civic Integration, Tourism and the Vlaamse Rand 
Jos Van Rillaer, general administrator of the Agency for Arts and Heritage of the ministry of the Flemish community
Part 1: Cultural heritage and EU
9:50 - 10:30 AM: Importance of cultural heritage and its most important challenges in the European context
Claire Giraud-Labalte, UCO France and heritage delegate for the European network ENCATC
The first speaker will give a concise and exciting lecture on the potential of heritage for society (from an economic, ecological and cultural diversity point of view). He will also talk about the most important challenges facing cultural heritage in the European context: the financial crisis, digitalisation, identity …
10:30 - 11:00 AM: Coffee break
11:00 - 11:40 AM: The place of heritage in relation to other policy domains
Simon Thurley, Chief Executive, English Heritage
In the second lecture the place of heritage in relation to other policy domains will be treated. Cultural heritage is not an island: it is influenced by and has impact on other policy domains such as agriculture, spatial planning, education, media, research, environment … Simon Thurley will give a nuanced and clear discourse on this topic illustrated by some examples from the EU policy practice. He will make the analysis of why the heritage sector sometimes fails to make its interests clear and to have influence at the EU level.
11:10 - 12:15: The efforts of the EU in the area of cultural heritage
Alison Crabb, Deputy Head of Unit, Culture Policy, Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue
Directorate General for Education & Culture, European Commission
In the last contribution the different actions undertaken by the EU in the field of cultural heritage will be described. This will not be limited to the initiatives taken within the competence area of Culture and Education.
12:15 AM - 01:45 PM: Lunch
Part 2: Inspiration
A number of possible long-term strategies are suggested to incorporate cultural heritage interests into EU policies. Examples and best practices in other sectors offer inspiration.
01:45 - 02:10: Inspiration of existing platforms
Jan Beyers, Professor Political Sciences, University of Antwerp
02:10- 02:35: Inspiration from the environmental sector
Hubert David, Chair European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils (EEAC)
02:35 - 03:00: Lessons from territorial cohesion: integrated place-based approach
Liesl Vanautgaerden, expert Terriotorial cohesion, Departement Town and County Planning, Housing Policy and Immovable Heritage, Flemish administration
03:00 - 03:30: Coffee break
Part 3: Vision for the future
03:30 - 05:00: Round-table discussion with some protagonist players engage in a discussion on the long-term strategies and on their respective roles. The audience will be involved in the discussion.
- Mikko Härö, president of the CDPATEP of the Council of Europe
- Snêska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, Secretary General, Europa Nostra
- Terje Nypan, Senior Councillor, Directorate for Cultural Heritage under the Royal Ministry of the Environment
- Cristina Sabbioni, Professor Chemistry Applied to Cultural Heritage and of Environmental Physics at the University of Bolognia, involved in the JPI Cultural Heritage and Global Change
- Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines, Member of European Parliament
Moderator and conclusions: Tamás Fejérdy, Vice-Chairman of the National Bureau for Monument Care, Hungary
05:00 - 05:15: Official presentation of the Declaration of Bruges
Geert Bourgeois, Vice-Minister-President of the Flemish Government,
Flemish Minister for Administrative Affairs, Local and Provincial Government,
Civic Integration, Tourism and the Vlaamse Rand
05:15 PM: Reception
7:00 PM: Private evening visit at the exhibition 'Van Eyck to Dürer'