World cultural heritage in Europe: new challenges and threats

Damage to or disappearance of cultural heritage constitutes a tragic impoverishment of the property of the whole world, particularly in the European region. Due to the large scale and gravity of the new dangers that threaten it, the international community is involved in the protection and promotion of cultural heritage. The paper studies the new threats and challenges that most destructively affect European cultural heritage. Heritage sites in Europe can be destroyed due to environmental and man-triggered disasters, uncontrolled urbanization, predatory exploitation of nature and cultural sights in commercial purposes, and the rapid development of international tourism. The problem of cultural heritage protection has been institutionally formalized and documented. The UNESCO international organization deals with the World Heritage issues. It compiles a list of objects of cultural and natural significance that are now under protection of all mankind and combines international efforts to preserve and popularize those objects because of their special cultural, historical or environmental significance. In Europe, it is necessary to strengthen public respect for cultural and natural heritage and to inform the public about the dangers threatening it.