ENNHO’s first General Assembly took place in Brussels on 16 June 2000 at
Scotland House. Over fifty participants representing heritage
conservation organisations from twenty-three European countries were
present to witness the official inauguration of the Network following
two years of preparation by the Secretariat and the Core Group.
GALA DINNER
Events began with a welcome dinner on 15 June, held in Brussel’s Solvay
Library, a fine nineteenth century Art Nouveau building. Keynote
speeches were delivered by senior representatives of the European
Commission and Parliament. Lord Williamson, Honorary European Adviser to
ENNHO and former Secretary General of the European Commission, Klaus
van der Pas, Director General for Education and Culture, European
Commission, Roy Perry MEP, involved in the Budget for the Committee on
Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport, European Parliament.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
On 16 June, proceedings began with a welcome speech by Bernard Zepter,
Deputy Secretary General of the European Commission, who gave an
enlightening and uplifting speech on ‘The European Union as a Community
Based on Shared Values’. The full text of Bernhard Zepter’s speech is
available from the ENNHO Secretariat.
The General Assembly then focused on the elections of officers and the
Executive Board. An ‘Exchange on the Exchange’ Fair was held over lunch.
This enabled delegates who had worked on different projects within the
framework of the EEP to exchange their experiences and talk about the
benefits of the Programme with their ENNHO colleagues and a wider
public, including representatives of the European Commission. The Fair
was opened by Caroline Mierop, a Member of the Cabinet of Viviane
Reding, European Commissioner for European Commissioner for Culture and
Education.
During the break for lunch delegates were treated to an impromptu
display of traditional Polish sword-dancing arranged by Executive Board
member Michal Smoktunowicz, Polish Heritage – Culture and Nature.
