The ECR Group in the CoR were delighted to welcome Dace Melbārde, Latvian Member of the European Parliament, to our group meeting on 15 March in the context of the European Committee of the Regions' March plenary session. Ms Melbārde was invited to discuss the importance of protecting cultural heritage across the EU and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector.

Unfortunately, the impact of COVID-19 has been "dire" for the culture sector and it has been amongst the "most severely hit because of the pandemic", said Ms Melbārde. Revenue losses in the sector are estimated at amounts of 200 billion euros in 2020 with the crisis "affecting EU regions disproportionately – Central and Eastern Europe being among the hardest hit". 

The onset of the pandemic led to tourism coming to a halt and cultural heritage sites, libraries and museums closing doors. Staff were not able to work remotely so the "functioning of cultural sites was impossible". For Ms Melbārde one of the biggest challenges is the fact that "heritage operators cannot adequately plan for the future".

So what does the future look like for the cultural sector? At the same time that culture needs support to recover from the pandemic, it "can also play a role in helping the European Union emerge from the crisis". Financing is needed for the sector in the short and long term and local and regional authorities must play a key role in this. According to Ms Melbārde culture is not just about "spending money" – it has a huge impact on regional development and social inclusion and we must "educate people through data" of its huge economic and social value.

Ms Melbārde was rapporteur in the European Parliament for the report on ensuring the long-term political effects of the European Year of Cultural Heritage, which was adopted in January 2021.