The two-day gathering, hosted by Denmark under its presidency of the EU Council, focused on protecting and rebuilding Ukraine’s cultural heritage, safeguarding reliable information in the digital era, and shaping a European vision for cultural content.
Ukraine’s deputy prime minister and culture minister Tetiana Berezhna also attended the meeting.
During the first day, ministers discussed ways to protect and restore Ukraine’s cultural heritage damaged by the war.
Cienkowska, who moderated one of the working groups, said Russia’s aggression against Ukraine aimed not only at military targets but also at destroying national symbols and cultural identity.
"Poland, as a frontline state historically close to Ukraine, actively supports efforts to safeguard Ukrainian heritage," Cienkowska said.
"From our experience, well-documented inventories are key to future reconstruction. That’s why in November 2024 we created an electronic database of Ukrainian cultural heritage, which now contains over half a million registered items," the Polish culture minister added.
The second day of the meeting focused on the protection of trustworthy information amid the rise of artificial intelligence and deepfake technologies.
Cienkowska moderated discussions on whether current legal frameworks are sufficient to counter disinformation and protect democratic resilience.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a joint declaration affirming that culture, independent media and Europe’s shared heritage remain fundamental pillars in defending democracy.
(ał)
Source: PAP