European Cultural Heritage Leaders Gather in Malta to Mark 30 Years of the Valletta Convention
Valletta, Malta – September 2025. The 19th annual meeting of the European Heritage Heads Forum (EHHF) was held in Valletta, Malta, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the revised 1992 Valletta Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage. Lithuania was represented by Vidmantas Bezaras, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage (KPD), and senior specialist Ričardas Dediala. The forum was hosted by Malta’s Superintendence of Cultural Heritage at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
This year’s conference, titled “The Valletta Convention: 30 Years in Practice,” explored how the Convention continues to shape archaeological policy and heritage management across Europe. Ratified by 46 states, the Convention remains a cornerstone of European archaeological protection, promoting preventive archaeology, international cooperation, and the integration of heritage into planning and development.
Delegates reflected on how the Convention transformed archaeology from a specialist field into a shared public responsibility, fostering accessibility, education, and community involvement. Lithuania ratified the revised Convention in 1999.
Looking ahead, the 20th EHHF meeting will be hosted by Croatia in Zagreb, on 20–22 May 2026, focusing on heritage resilience in the face of global challenges such as climate change, conflict, and natural disasters.
The EHHF took place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC). Photo courtesy of the organizers.