The European Union and the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Third Countries: Legal and Policy Aspects

Around the world, cultural heritage is being lost to war, environmental degradation, persecution and neglect. Its protection has become not only a cultural concern but also a global duty to safeguard the legacy of our shared humanity. This book examines how a political entity can act to protect heritage beyond its borders, and what the legitimacy of such action is.

Focusing on the European Union, it traces how heritage protection has developed into a vital element of the Union’s external identity. Within the post-Lisbon legal framework, the EU’s paradox is evident: it possesses limited cultural powers, yet it has become one of the strongest defenders of humanity’s shared past. Through analysis of EU treaties, international law and policy instruments, the study shows how heritage protection underpins the EU’s broader aims of peace, human rights and sustainable development. Written in a clear and engaging style, this book shows that safeguarding heritage abroad is both a legal act and a moral duty, reaffirming the shared foundations of a peaceful international order.