Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic has dedicated her life to championing Europe’s shared values and shared cultural heritage. She has been working for Europa Nostra, the European Voice of Civil Society Committed to Cultural Heritage, during a period of over 30 years, and was appointed as the organisation’s Secretary General in 2000. She regularly interacts and works closely with all EU institutions, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and numerous public and private bodies committed to cultural heritage at all levels of governance, from local to global.
In 2022, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic was elevated to the rank of Knight of the national order of the Legion of Honour, the highest distinction conferred by the French Republic, for her “unreserved commitment to the preservation of heritage in Serbia and more widely in Europe, in close collaboration with France” and for her “dedication and commitment to the cultural dimension of the European project”.
Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic is a regular speaker/author on cultural heritage related matters of importance for a more beautiful, sustainable and inclusive future of Europe. She has been the spokesperson of the European Heritage Alliance – an informal platform of over 50 European/international heritage networks – since its creation in 2011. She has played a prominent role in advocating and implementing the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 and is now a member of the EC Expert Group on Cultural Heritage. She is also committed to climate action and is the regional co-Chair of the Climate Heritage Network. She is a member of the Europeana Foundation Advisory Board, the European Union Youth Orchestra Advisory Council and the Steering Committee of the European Music Centre in Bougival.
Before joining Europa Nostra at its headquarters in The Hague, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic worked for the EU Institutions in Brussels and in her native city Belgrade. In 1991, she was one of the founders and first Secretary–General of the European Movement in Yugoslavia. She holds a graduate degree in International Law (Belgrade, former Yugoslavia) and a post-graduate degree in European Law and Politics (Nancy, France).
Thursday 11
08.45 - 09.35
From Cop 28 to Cop 29 and Beyond: Championing Culture-Based Climate Action
Apollon Room | Amalia Hotel
Programming Partners: Europa Nostra & European Heritage Hub
Following the Global Call to Action for Culture-Based Climate Action launched by civil society ahead of COP 28, and the historic launch of the related "Group of Friends" at COP 28 in Dubai, this panel will bring together global and European champions of culture-based Climate Action to build the momentum for formal recognition of the vital role of culture, cultural heritage and ancestral intelligence for a more effective climate action at COP 29 in Baku and COP 30 in Bélem).
17.00 - 17.50
Accelerating Untapped Potential of our Shared Heritage Eu/Western Balkans Integration - Athens Hub
Exhibition Hall | European Cultural Centre of Delphi
At the moment when we are witnessing a welcome acceleration of the EU enlargement agenda, this panel will demonstrate that our shared cultural heritage provides a still untapped potential for building the much needed bridges between the citizens and institutions of the EU Member States and the candidate states from the Western Balkans. Special focus will be given to the vital role of cities and civil society organisations to mobilise citizens and their communities to engage in the safeguard of our shared values and cultural heritage, not only in their own cities and regions but also across borders, in collaboration with neighbouring countries.