The protection and conservation of the European Cultural Heritage is an important problem affecting all Member States of the European Union. Increasing deterioration of its materials - be it stone, brick, leather, paper, wood, paintings, metals etc - is causing great concern throughout the Union. Atmospheric pollution, urbanisation, tourism or inappropriate conservation treatments all play a part. Since environmental effects have no frontiers, the Member States have everything to gain by combining their efforts and resources to evaluate common knowledge and strategies for protecting their cultural goods, while contributing to the cohesion of the Union and their quality of life. To achieve this it is essential to understand the causes, mechanisms and consequences of the damage by collaborative international research on this issue, and to establish and develop practices and technologies where we have a sound scientific and technical basis. The European Commission's research response to these problems is outlined in the following scheme. This research area is managed and funded by General Direction XII under the Environment and Climate Programme.