Europe's cultural heritage needs protecting: Polish deputy PM

Piotr Gliński was speaking in the French capital where he took part in an EU conference on the protection of Europe’s historic heritage.

Gliński, who is also Poland’s culture minister, said that "the emphasis should be placed on prevention--in order to protect the most valuable landmarks, so that we are not taken by surprise by dramatic events like the Notre Dame fire."

Gliński told reporters that Poland could be an example for other countries to follow when it came to heritage preservation.

“Our historical monuments are well protected,” Gliński said, as quoted by public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency.

He added: "There is still not enough money, but there are procedures in place. We are investing a lot in protection systems.”

Culture and European affairs ministers from across the European Union met in Paris on Friday to discuss stepped-up efforts and closer cooperation among member states to protect the bloc's cultural heritage in the wake of the Notre Dame fire.

The meeting was convened at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Public broadcaster Polish Radio in April launched a special website and backed a drive by the country’s church leaders to raise funds to help rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral after the landmark in Paris was ravaged by a blaze.

On April 15, the world watched in dismay as the historic cathedral in the heart of Paris, one of the symbols of the French capital, was consumed by the flames.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said at the time that the blaze was a tragedy for religious people and a disaster for world culture.

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has declared that his country is ready to help rebuild the centuries-old edifice.

Morawiecki said: "This is our European, Christian heritage; these are the foundations of Europe."

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Source: IAR, TVP