“Culture is part and parcel of our work on democracy and our work on strengthening the Union, including our security in Europe,” he said.
“This is a program that needs to be strengthened and I will continue to make the case for that.”
Micallef cited Ukraine, arguing that Russia is attacking its cultural and heritage sites in an attempt to destabilize the country as a whole.
“If you want to destroy a nation, if you want to completely erase a country, you attack its culture.”
Micallef visited Ukraine earlier this month for a meeting on how to protect Ukraine’s heritage during Russia’s ongoing invasion.
“The night before we crossed the border into Ukraine, a UNESCO world heritage site was destroyed in Odesa, specifically targeted by the Russians,” Micallef said.
