Objectives of the project

The BYZANTIUM - early ISLAM is a multidisciplinary project aiming to bring to the fore the region’s Byzantine and Islamic cultural heritage and to modernise its ability to manage it intelligently through co-operation. This project is a golden opportunity to create the highest standards of heritage conservation and promotion in the MEDA region.

This aim coincides with overall goal of the European Union, as outlined in the Barcelona Process (1995) to encourage political dialogue, trade and economic integration and social and cultural co-operation. In December 2004, the Euromed Heritage III Programme of the European Commission agreed to fund this project.

To meet this overall objective, the partners specifically aim carryout further training of heritage professionals to enhance the capacity of their institutions to better protect the cultural heritage in questions, to research strategies for its safeguarding and develop inventories on state of conservation.

During the course of the project’s first year and soon after the feedback from the first interim report and more specifically by the MED monitoring by European Commission which took place 17 October 2005, the objective of the project was further developed . It was decided at the Committee Meeting of October 15th/16th that in order to meet the overall existing objectives the project should aim to further engage heritage professionals in the MEDA partners’ countries in the decision making stage of the activities, by;

- taking reference in the Workshop agendas on the necessities specified in the research activity and vice – versa.
- Moving activities from Greece, as initially planned, to the Meda Countries