Guardian of culture: the European Union’s quest for actorness in the protection of cultural heritage in conflicts and crises

The protection of cultural heritage has become a crucial element of international peace and security, with “cultural peacekeeping” emerging as an important task in peace operations. The European Union, active in crisis management since 2003 with the deployment of over 40 missions and operations abroad, has been involved in this effort in recent years. By applying the theory of “EU actorness”, this article evaluates the extent to which the EU has established itself as a player in the protection of cultural heritage in conflicts and crises within the framework of its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Six criteria of actorness are analysed through EU strategic documents, operational activities and interviews with EU officials, alongside a focused examination of the European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq). The findings indicate that the EU’s actorness in cultural heritage protection is nascent and still developing. While progress has been made in a short time, the process remains incomplete and largely confined to a niche sector. However, the EU holds significant potential to become a leading actor, provided that expectations are matched with enhanced capabilities and sustained political commitment from both the EU and its Member States.