Introduction
Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) does not stop at political borders. Many traditions are shared by neighboring regions and countries, shaped by centuries of migration, trade, and cultural exchange. Because of this, safeguarding ICH often requires regional cooperation, where several states and communities work together to protect and promote their common heritage.
Regional safeguarding emphasizes that heritage is both local and transnational. It belongs to communities but also reflects larger cultural spaces: the Balkans, the Carpathians, the Mediterranean, or the Nordic region.
Why regional cooperation matters
- Shared traditions: Folk music, foodways, seasonal rituals, and crafts often cross borders.
- Common challenges: depopulation, globalization, and loss of practitioners affect entire regions, not just single countries.
- Stronger visibility: Regional cooperation increases the chances of inscription on UNESCO lists and attracts international support.
- Tourism and identity: Joint heritage projects strengthen regional identity and promote sustainable tourism.
Mechanisms of regional safeguarding
- Cross-border nominations to UNESCO: Several states can jointly nominate ICH elements (e.g., Transhumance is recognized by Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, and others).
- Regional organizations: Cultural networks, councils of ministers, or regional heritage institutes often coordinate activities.
- EU-funded programs: Interreg, Creative Europe, and Horizon projects support cross-border cooperation in safeguarding heritage.
- Regional inventories: Shared databases of traditions across borders (e.g., Carpathian or Mediterranean heritage mapping).
Case studies
- The Mediterranean Diet (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Croatia)
- Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List as a shared cultural practice.
- Highlights the importance of food traditions, rituals of sharing, and community identity across countries.
- Carpathian transhumance (Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria, etc.)
- A pastoral practice recognized by multiple countries.
- Shows how heritage can reflect a cultural corridor across mountain regions.
- Polyphonic singing in the Balkans
- Practices shared in Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia.
- Promoted regionally through festivals and cross-border cultural events.
These examples prove that safeguarding works best when states cooperate instead of competing.
Application – Student activity
Task:
- Choose one regional tradition (e.g., Mediterranean Diet, Transhumance, Polyphonic Singing).
- Analyze:
- Which countries are involved?
- What local communities sustain the practice?
- What regional mechanisms support its safeguarding?
- Discuss: How does regional cooperation make safeguarding stronger compared to a single-country effort?
Reflection questions
- Why do some traditions require regional safeguarding instead of national safeguarding?
- Can regional cooperation strengthen community identity, or does it risk diluting local ownership?
- Do you think joint nominations to UNESCO are more effective than individual ones? Why?
- What regional traditions do you know that could benefit from cross-border cooperation?