Italy's Faro Convention Ratification Sparks Debate Over Risks

A coalition of cultural professionals in Italy is pressuring the government and Parliament to ratify the Council of Europe's Faro Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society. However, Stefano Monti, partner at Monti&Taft, warns that the convention's broad concepts—such as 'cultural heritage' and 'active participation'—could lead to vague laws and ineffective implementation. He cites Article 4, which grants everyone the right to benefit from and contribute to cultural heritage, questioning how authorities will regulate 'enrichment' and set objective limits. Monti argues that Italy lacks a unified fiscal policy for cultural assets and creative activities, making integrated development policies unrealistic in the short term. He suggests that proponents of rapid ratification may either be overly optimistic or have hidden interests. The convention defines cultural heritage as resources inherited from the past that populations identify as reflecting their evolving values, beliefs, and traditions. Monti fears that in Italy, where skepticism toward valorization activities persists, the concept of 'enrichment' may be misunderstood. He also notes that many articles require member states to adopt integrated policies across political, economic, social, environmental, and technological dimensions—a challenge for a country without a coherent cultural fiscal strategy.