2022
20 September 2022 - The deployment of a common European data space for cultural heritage starts.
02 September 2022 - Call for applications for the selection of members of the sub-group of the expert group on the Common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage
2021
09 December 2021 Expert Group on a common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage
16 November 2021 The Commission Expert Group on a common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage (CEDCHE) is launhced.
10 November 2021 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION of 10.11.2021 on a common European data space for cultural heritage
2020
- 12 November: The consulation outcome and the summary report on the open public consultation is published.
- 12 August: Basic principles and tips for 3D digitisation of cultural heritage are published.
- 11 August: The European Commission launches a unique study on 3D digitisation of tangible cultural heritage led by Cyprus University of Technology
- 22 June: The European Commission launched a public consultation on digital access to European cultural heritage addressed to all interested people to provide feedback on the Recommendation of 2011 on digitising cultural material and digital preservation.
- 11 June: Europeana strategy 2020-2025 is published.
- 13 May: The tourism and transport package is published, promoting cultural, sustainable coastal and maritime or rural and agri-tourism together with Europeana.
2019
- 12 June: Member States Progress Reports 2015-2017.
- 9 April: EU Member States sign up to cooperate on digitising cultural heritage in the Declaration of cooperation on advancing digitisation of cultural heritage.
2018
- 6 September: Adoption of the Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the evaluation of Europeana and the way forward (COM/2018/612 final). The Report presents the results of the evaluation based on the findings of the independent study ‘Evaluation of Europeana and orientations for its future development, following adoption of Council conclusions by EYCS Council on 31/05/2016’ and proposes orientations in terms of scope, funding and governance of Europeana, with the aim of becoming an enabler for the digital transformation of the cultural heritage sector. More information
- Decision on European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 with Europeana as one of the activities to support the objectives of the Year.
- Member States Progress Reports 2015-2017.
2017
- The European Commission, Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) has launched an evaluation of Europeana, following the Council Conclusions of 31/5/2016 on the role of Europeana for the digital access, visibility and use of European cultural heritage (Evaluation Roadmap). The public consultation, launched on 17 October 2017, will contribute to the evaluation of Europeana and will help direct its future development.
- 7 March 2017 - The new DCHE Expert Group is conceived as a continuation of the Member States' Expert Group on Digitisation and Digital Preservation (MSEG). Commission Decision of 7/3/2017 setting up the Expert Group on Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana.
- Member States Progress Reports 2015-2017.
2016
- 1 July 2016 – Publication of the European Commission Report on Bringing Europe's Cultural Heritage Online.
- 31 May 2016 – The Education, Youth, Culture and Sports (EYCS) Council adopted conclusions on the role of Europeana for the digital access, visibility and use of European cultural heritage. The Council Conclusions confirm Member States' continued support for Europeana, both from a cultural as well as a digital innovation perspective, and give renewed political guidance to the mission and priorities of Europeana. They foresee arrangements to improve the functionality and user-friendliness of the site, strengthen the involvement of Member States and their cultural institutions both in operational and strategic governance and engage a wider audience.
2015
- Progress reports from the Member States in the framework of the Commission’s Recommendation of 27 October 2011 on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation.
2014
- 22 July 2014: Communication of the European Commission 'Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe' and Mapping of Cultural Heritage Actions in EU policies, programmes and activities
- 3 July 2014: Europeana Strategy 2015 - 2020: 'We transform the world with culture'.
2013
- Progress reports from the Member States in the framework of the Commission’s Recommendation of 27 October 2011 on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation.
2012
- 10 May 2012 - At its meeting, the Education, Youth and Culture (EYC) Council adopted conclusions on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation on the basis of the Commission's Recommendation of 27 October 2011.
In its conclusions, the Council invites the Member States to:- Consolidate their strategies and targets for the digitisation of cultural material;
- Consolidate the organisation of and provision of funding for digitisation, promoting public-private partnerships
- Improve the framework conditions for the online accessibility and use of cultural material;
- Contribute to the further development of Europeana, the Europeana Digital Library and
- To ensure long-term digital preservation.
In the Annex to its conclusions, the Council sets out a number of priority actions as well as an indicative timetable for work by the Member States in the years 2012-2015 in order to achieve these objectives.
2011
- 27 October 2011 - Commission Recommendation on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation - Commission Staff Working Paper
- 10 January 2011 - "Comité des Sages" on bringing Europe's cultural heritage online presents its report "The new Renaissance": See the Report (EN)
2010
- 10 May 2010 -The Council adopted Conclusions outlining the next step for Europeana - the European digital library. Member States agreed to continue and strengthen their support for Europeana and the digitisation projects carried out by their cultural institutions, in order to increase the number of objects from libraries, museums, archives and audiovisual collections accessible through the Europeana service. See the press releases
- 5 May 2010 - The European Parliament adopted a Resolution on "Europeana - Next Steps" joining the Commission in asking EU Member States to step up their efforts to make their cultural heritage available through the European Digital Library.
2009
- 28 August 2009 – The Commission adopted the Communication "Europeana - next steps" ; The accompanying Staff Working Document EN; looks ahead to the next phase of development of Europeana and its direction for the future.
2008
- 20 November 2008 - The European Digital Library - Europeana - was launched in the presence of José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Christine Albanel, French Minister of Culture and Communication, Cultural Ministers from other Member States and representatives of European cultural institutions, in Brussels, Belgium. See the Press release
- 20 November 2008 - Council conclusions on the European digital library EUROPEANA
- 11 August 2008 - The Commission adopted a Communication on Europe’s cultural heritage at the click of a mouse - Progress on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation across the EU
- 23 - 24 June 2008 – Presentation and testing of the first version of the Europeana prototype at a stakeholders' conference in The Hague.
- 13 February 2008 – Adoption of the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on 'Promoting broad public access to the European digital library'.
- 1 February 2008 - Presentation of the first static model of Europeana at a conference in Frankfurt.
- Report - The problem of Orphan Works in the EU
2007
- 22-23 November 2007 - The Council invites the Member States and the Commission to work together at European level on the accessibility and preservation of scientific information.
- 8 November 2007- Creation of the European Digital Library Foundation which formalises the agreement of European archives, museums, audiovisual archives and libraries to work together and to provide a common access point to Europe's cultural heritage online.
- 27 September 2007 - The European Parliament (EP) adopts a resolution on 'i2010: towards a European digital library'.
- 14 February 2007 - The Commission adopts a Communication on scientific information in the digital age.
2006
- 13 November 2006 - The Council of the European Union adopts Council conclusions on the Digitisation and Online Accessibility of Cultural Material and Digital Preservation.
- 24 August 2006 - The European Commission adopts a Recommendation on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation.
- 15 June 2006 – Adoption of the opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Digital Libraries Initiative.
- 27 February 2006 – A High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries is set up by a European Commission decision.
2005
- 30 September 2005 - The Commission adopts a Communication "i2010: Digital Libraries" which outlines the vision underlying the digital libraries initiative and deals with Europe’s cultural heritage.
- 7 July 2005 - José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, replies to the letter from 6 Heads of State and Government and welcomes the digital libraries initiative.
- 28 April 2005 - Six Heads of State and Government advocate the creation of a virtual European library, aiming to make Europe’s cultural and scientific record accessible for all. See the letter to the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and to the European Commission.