Kiri

The European Archaeological Council A summary of benefits, financial arrangements and governance Barney Sloane, President, May 2020 The European Archaeological Council (EAC) has been in existence for 21 years and in that time has helped to bring the archaeological heritage managers of over 30 European states together to help each other solve major challenges. It is a unique and vital networking organisation. 1. Benefits to member states It pursues a strategic agenda and accompanying action plan for improving European archaeology (the Amersfoort Agenda). In delivering its action plan, it hosts a themed annual symposium focused on issues or pressures on archaeological management which transcend state borders. Over the last two decades, it has addressed illegal looting, marine archaeology, archaeology and major infrastructure, archaeology in farmed and forested landscapes, the implementation of the Valletta and Faro Conventions, digital archaeological heritage, state management of archaeological monuments, and many more subjects. It publishes the symposium proceedings annually both online and in hard copy summary form, free for members. It convenes specialist working groups whose voluntary members undertake specific research and develop international guidance and advice. Existing working groups are working on impacts of agricultural policy in Europe, attempts to improve the archaeological archive situation, technical development of remote sensing, developing research frameworks, exploring the nature of significance, and making the case for the public benefit of archaeology. It publishes technical guidance and suggested standards, for example on archaeological archives and the best use of geophysical survey. It produces a regular EU Briefing on policy, legislative and strategic funding developments which may be of interest to its members. It provides direct support and advice to member states on particular issues through its Board. It supports key strategic funding bids for projects of international value to archaeological heritage management, thus helping to bring much needed external funds to participating states. It connects with international heritage bodies such as the Council of Europe, ICOMOS, the European Heads of Heritage Forum and others 2. Finances Its financing is based on state membership for which a small subscription is levied. The subscription is calculated on the basis of the member state’s GDP and population, following the allocations used for calculating the Council of Europe contributions. This ensures a fair situation in which states with smaller economies and populations pay less while larger ones pay more. The current annual budget is c €45,000. The smallest states pay a minimum of €200 per annum, while the largest pay c €7000. Each state can split its own costs among state institutions responsible for strategic archaeological heritage management in accordance with its own desired arrangements. So the Federal Republic of Germany splits its state costs among its 16 Länder, and the UK divides its costs between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This subscription pays for the following activities: • A part time Assistant post • Accountancy and legal fees • Translation costs • Maintenance of a website • The newsletter and EU Briefing (shared with the European Association of Archaeologists) • Limited travel and subsistence costs of three international board meetings per year • Some costs associated with the annual general meeting and symposium • Publication costs of the symposium proceedings online and in hard copy summary • Occasional small research or consultancy expenditure as required 3. Governance EAC representatives are nominated by the Ministry or executive officer of the primary state body for archaeological management. EAC is managed by a Board with an elected (unpaid) President, Vice- President, Treasurer and Secretary. Each Board member and Officer is elected by full general assembly and serve for a period of three years. A set of formal Statutes governs the activities of EAC, established under Belgian law (which is where the EAC is legally established). 4. Statements of Value from member states The best means of understanding the value of the EAC to our members is to hear from their representatives directly. Here are some examples from current member states. “EAC is the only organization that knows in depth contemporary European archaeology. Its structure is efficient. The EU membership does not provide just fresh information but provokes timely implementation of adequate measures/solutions for the good of a state and Europe as a whole.” (Bulgaria) “On several occasions we have had benefit from the EAC members’ network when we needed an international comparison when dealing with issues regarding the implementation of Valletta. The last time was in 2018 when we asked several member states how they implemented article 9 of the treaty on public outreach. This helped us in drafting our own policy on this matter”. (Netherlands) “Issues discussed within the EAC inform our policy-making activities. The European perspective is especially useful in our contacts with the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage – through the EAC we can get evidence to support our opinions regarding any archaeological heritage related topics.” (Poland) “Ireland has valued Membership of EAC since its inception, and now more than ever as we seek to rebuild after COVID and ensure heritage plays its part in the recovery and well-being of Europe. EAC serves as a critical and efficient European heritage network that allows us to share our concerns, identify solutions and policies. As well as its network and policy development value, Ireland references EAC guidelines and policies within its own policy areas as they arise- continued support for EAC is a principle action in a new 10-year Heritage Policy being developed.” (Ireland) “The power of the EAC to bring different European senior management perspectives on key issues together has been incredibly helpful to us with our work on archaeology and public benefit, developing research frameworks, and working towards solutions for archives.” (United Kingdom) Tõnis Lukas Minister of Culture Suur-Karja 23 15076 Tallinn Estonia [email protected] 9 November 2020 Re: European Archaeological Council membership Dear Mr Lukas, The European Archaeological Council is a democratic network of national bodies that are legally responsible for archaeological heritage management in their countries and it has now been in existence for over twenty years. Our association represents the (archaeological) heritage managers of Europe and collectively possesses extensive expertise on the protection, enhancement and management of cultural heritage. The main aim of our network is to support archaeological heritage management in Europe by promoting exchange of information and good practices, providing a forum for discussion, and by facilitating closer and more structured cooperation on important topics and issues of current concern. Presently there are 32 European countries which have delegated members to the organisation. Estonia has had representatives to the EAC since 1999. Estonia is currently represented by The National Heritage Board of Estonia, and our contact there is Ulla Kadakas, Director of archaeological heritage field, Department of Buildings and Archaeology, National Heritage Board of Estonia (also proposed as a member of the EAC Board of Directors). Recently, EAC has taken the decision to change its membership’s principles to ensure that the EAC is a membership of organisations, not of individuals. This reflects our role in supporting heritage agencies and departments across Europe. The proposed change will empower each member state, if it wishes, to provide more than one organisation as members of EAC. The only conditions are that each state can have only one vote, and that each member organisation which represents a state, has a genuine national and strategic role in archaeological heritage management. The subscription rates will not be altered as a result of the proposed change: each member’s subscription is calculated in relation to the Council of Europe contribution the state makes. However, the total state subscription can, if the member state wishes it, be divided among each organisation which represents it. This could help spread the cost. 1 EAC – European Archaeological Council / Europae Archaeologiae Consilium / Conseil Européen d’Archéologie ivzw / aisbl (an international not-for-profit association under Belgian law) registered office / siège social : rue des Brigades d'Irlande 1, 5100 Namur BELGIUM  Member states which do have multiple members are fully entitled to develop whatever internal mechanism they wish to coordinate their member organisations and agree the voting right. A very good example of such a coordinating organisation is the Verband der Landesarchäologen (Association of Federal State Archaeologists) of Germany, coordinating the representation of the 16 lander which make up the Federal Republic. We would like to ensure that the European Archaeological Council continues to work effectively with its members in Estonia, and that all bodies responsible for the protection and management of archaeological heritage in the country are included in the work of our network. We would like to invite you to please: 1) Confirm the eligibility of the current EAC representatives for Estonia - National Heritage Board of Estonia. 2) Propose any other organisations / institutions in Estonia that have the responsibility to manage the archaeological heritage on national / regional level (and so may be eligible to be a member of the EAC). If you could get back to us with that information by 11th December 2020, we will be very grateful. We are looking forward to our future work together and we are hoping to see Estonia’s representatives at both our general Assembly online meeting in March 2021 and our next Heritage Symposium in Austria in June 2021. Thank you. Yours sincerely, Barney Sloane FSA President [email protected] CC: Piret Hartman, Directorate Undersecretary for Cultural Diversity; Acting as Undersecretary for Cultural Heritage - [email protected] Ulla Kadakas (director of archaeological heritage field, Department of Buildings and Archaeology, National Heritage Board of Estonia [email protected] Attachments: EAC Summary of Benefits 2020 2 EAC – European Archaeological Council / Europae Archaeologiae Consilium / Conseil Européen d’Archéologie ivzw / aisbl (an international not-for-profit association under Belgian law) registered office / siège social : rue des Brigades d'Irlande 1, 5100 Namur BELGIUM