CONSIDERING that the cultural heritage, both movable and immovable, is a cornerstone of European cultural identity, an identity which respects both natural and regional diversities;
CONSIDERING the special nature of this heritage, its finite nature, the moral obligation to guarantee access to it for present and future generations and to raise awareness of its origins, history, vulnerability and preservation amongst professionals, the public and decision makers.
CONSIDERING that it is necessary to ensure the highest level of conservation – restoration for cultural heritage, i.e. that which is capable of guaranteeing its integrity and prolonging its existence;
CONSIDERING that this high level of conservation – restoration depends on the professional status of the conservator – restorer being given urgent recognition at a European level;
CONSIDERING that the conservator – restorer must be part of the decision-making process from the outset of a conservation – restoration project and the he/ she must assume, in collaboration with the other partners involved, the responsibilities which relate to his/her own competence (in particular, diagnosis, prescription, implementation and documentation of treatment).

The experts concerned with conservation – restoration of cultural heritage, meeting in Pavia in October 1997, recommend that, on the basis of the document prepared by the professional bodies (“ECCO professional guidelines”), the European Union, in collaboration with all the specialists in the field, should encourage the following actions:

1. The recognition and promotion of conservation – restoration as a discipline covering all categories of cultural and property and taught at university level or recognised equivalent, with the possibility of a doctorate
2. The development of interdisciplinary exchange between conservator – restorers and exponents of the humanities and the natural sciences both in teaching and in research
3. The development of the profile of the conservator – restorer based on the E.C.C.O professional guidelines (93/94), of his/her role in decision-making for the outset of a project and of his/her responsibility for communicating with other professionals, the public and decision-makers
4. The development of a definition at European level of the full range of professional competences of the conservator - restorer
5. The avoidance of the proliferation of training programmes which do not meet the standards of the profession
6. The assurance of appropriate balance of integrated theoretical and practical teaching, as well as the teaching of strategies for communi-cation in the education and training of the conservator – restorer
7. The setting up, as a matter of urgency, of a programme of co-operation and exchange within a European network training and research institutions
8. The setting up of a comparative study by the professions of the different educational systems (objectives, contents and levels)
9. The promotion of improved dissemination of information by means of publication of conservation – restoration projects
10. The promotion of research in conservation – restoration
11. The establishment of a regulatory framework to guarantee the quality of intervention on cultural heritage or its environment in order to avoid the negative impacts of market forces. This regulatory framework will include, in particular, provisions concerning:
 The competence of enterprises or teams of professionals in charge of conservation – restoration projects
 The drafting of specifications for conservation – restoration projects
12. The publication of a multilingual glossary prepared on the basis of the conceptual definitions to be found in the professional literature
13. The provision of appropriate resources to ensure improved communi-cation between professionals, the public and the decision makers

The experts gathered in Pavia urge the Institutions of the EU to demonstrate their commitment to the preservation of the cultural heritage by translating these recommendations into tangible, co-ordinated actions

Unanimously adopted
Pavia, 21 October 1997

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