Beneath the Surface: European Heritage in Depth

There are places where history does not stand in front of you, but surrounds you, quietly, almost invisibly. Not in monuments or archives, but in movement, in depth, in layers that are not immediately accessible. The ocean is one of them. It does not reveal its stories easily, yet it holds some of the most profound narratives of human connection.

Participating in the Youth Policy Dialogue “Young Voices for the Ocean” with Commissioners Kadis and Micallef, held on 19 March 2026 in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, made this especially tangible. At a time when Cyprus holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this experience also felt symbolically significant; a reminder that Europe is not only shaped through institutions and policies, but also through places, encounters and shared perspectives. One of the main topics of discussion was underwater cultural heritage , with a particular emphasis on the need for its effective protection and its integration into broader marine policies, including marine spatial planning. The discussions also highlighted the importance of enhancing its visibility through education, research, and digital tools.

In my view, what stood out most during the discussions was not only the urgency of protecting our oceans, but also the way this conversation brings together different dimensions: environmental responsibility, cultural memory and collective identity. The ocean is often approached as a natural resource or a space to be managed. Yet it is also a repository of stories of journeys, exchanges, conflicts and encounters that have shaped Europe over centuries. This perspective becomes even clearer when considering cultural heritage beyond the visible. We tend to associate heritage with what can be seen, visited and documented. But what about the layers that remain hidden? What about the histories that lie beneath the surface, both literally and metaphorically? 

This is where the work of the European Heritage Label offers a particularly meaningful lens. It invites us to understand heritage not as isolated sites, but as part of a shared narrative; one that connects places, people and values across time and space. An example of this is the Azores Underwater Cultural Heritage, in Portugal. Unlike traditional heritage sites, this is not a single location, but a network of thirty underwater sites; shipwrecks, anchors, artillery pieces and archaeological remains scattered across the Atlantic seabed. The Azores themselves occupy a fascinating geographical position, between Europe, the Americas and Africa. For centuries, they functioned as a crossroads of maritime routes, a point of passage for ships carrying goods, people and ideas across continents. 

The remains found underwater today are not just fragments of ships; they are traces of a shared European experience shaped by exploration, trade, migration and exchange. While some of these underwater locations can be visited by divers, efforts have also been made to ensure that this heritage is accessible to a wider audience through museums, awareness centres and increasingly through digital tools. In this sense, the site does not simply preserve the past; it actively reinterprets it, making it relevant and engaging in new ways.

At the same time, it raises important questions about responsibility. Underwater heritage is fragile, often exposed to environmental pressures, human activity and the challenges of long-term preservation. Protecting it requires not only technical expertise, but also awareness; an understanding that heritage is not static and that its survival depends on how we choose to engage with it. This brings us back to a broader reflection: heritage is not only about memory, but about care. It is about how we relate to the past in a way that is conscious, inclusive and forward-looking. And in this process, the role of younger generations becomes particularly important -not as passive recipients, but as active participants in shaping how heritage is understood and experienced.

What emerged from the discussions in Cyprus, in my view, is a sense that the boundaries between sectors are becoming increasingly blurred. Environmental protection, cultural heritage and public engagement are no longer separate conversations. They intersect, influence one another and require more integrated approaches. In this context, the ocean becomes more than a physical space. It becomes a metaphor for connection between disciplines, between generations and between different parts of the world. It challenges us to look beyond what is immediately visible and to consider the deeper layers that shape our shared reality. Perhaps this is where the true value of such experiences lies. Not in providing definitive answers, but in opening up new ways of thinking. In reminding us that heritage is not only something we inherit, but something we continuously reinterpret. And that even beneath the surface, there are stories waiting to be understood… if we dare to dive deeper.