Europa Nostra: 5 Greek Islands Shortlisted for Most Endangered Program 2021

Photo source: Europa Nostra / Kimolistes

Five south Aegean islands – namely Amorgos, Kimolos, Kythira, Sikinos and Tinos – are among the 12 most threatened heritage sites in Europe, shortlisted for the “7 Most Endangered” program of Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute for 2021.

Nominations for the 7 Most Endangered Program 2021 were submitted by member organizations, associate organizations and individual members of Europa Nostra from all over Europe as well as by members of the European Heritage Alliance. Launched in 2013, the 7 Most Endangered program aims to serve as a catalyst for action.

Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage nominated the five islands because it believes that their landscape is in grave danger as the Greek government is encouraging its transformation into an industrial zone of wind parks. According to Elliniki Etairia, the plan is to install wind turbines in different parts of each island, often side by side with archaeological sites, some within protected Natura 2000 areas and as a backdrop to traditional villages.

Elliniki Etairia is asking for alternative and balanced clean-energy solutions rather than wind parks, together with an in-depth consultation process with local communities and experts.

Photo source: Europa Nostra – Michalis Antypas

The 12 European heritage sites shortlisted for the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2021 are the following:

• Achensee Steam Cog Railway, Tyrol, Austria
• Modern Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria
• Cemetery Complex of Mirogoj, Zagreb, Croatia
• Church of Saint-Denis, Hauts-de-France, France
• Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Green Space System, Cologne, Germany
• Five Southern Aegean Islands, Greece
• The Giusti Garden, Verona, Italy
• The Ca’ Zenobio Palace, Venice, Italy
• Dečani Monastery, Kosovo
• Central Post Office in Skopje, North Macedonia
• San Juan de Socueva Chapel and Hermitage, Cantabria, Spain

“ You can count on Europa Nostra, and our wide network of members and partners, to raise our voices in defense of these 12 heritage sites at risk of being lost forever… These remarkable sites embody our shared history and are an untapped source of development and wellbeing for the regions and countries involved and for Europe as a whole,” the Executive President of Europa Nostra Hermann Parzinger said.

For the 2021 edition, for the first time since the launch of the program, the selected 7 Most Endangered heritage sites will be eligible for an EIB Heritage Grant of up to 10,000 euros per site.

The final list of 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe for 2021 will be unveiled in March.