Commission to Preserve National Monuments

Europa Nostra Award
By incorporating cultural heritage into the process of reconciliation and rebuilding civic trust, the Commission has been crucially important in building sustainable peace in Bosnia Herzegovina. The approach they are using within the framework of the Dayton Peace Agreement is an example to all European countries or regions where heritage is affected by conflict. The Commission has achieved this through a commitment to political independence, professionalism, training, education and public engagement. This success has been gained against a background of massive and deliberate destruction of the cultural heritage of Bosnia Herzegovina, a lack of funding and a weak legal system and the Jury believes this success to be a tremendous and awe-inspiring triumph.

The Europa Nostra Awards are presented to outstanding achievements from European countries not taking part in the EU’s Creative Europe programme.