The NEMO’s Policy Statement outlines NEMO’s four key values and three cross-cutting themes that the network finds to be essential to the sector’s development, placing Collection, Social, Education, and Economic values at the centre.
Since June 2025, the document also affirms that museums must operate independently and responsibly, guided by law and cultural rights, to serve society and uphold shared European values. The section on Strategic Focus now reads:
‘NEMO concentrates on four key strategic areas vital to the European museum sector. At the core of these areas is the value of collections, which underpins museums’ social, educational, and economic contributions to society. In addition, NEMO emphasizes the importance of digital and sustainable transformation of museums, along with the continuous professional development of museum professionals, as essential to achieving success in all four strategic areas. Museums must operate within a framework of professional independence and responsibility to effectively fulfil their mission and societal role. This independence is protected by the rule of law and supported by publicly accessible policies, ensuring the freedom of cultural access, participation, and pluralism.
The strategic framework highlights museums' role in contributing to a sustainable and resilient society. It underscores the importance of museums and cultural heritage as custodians of common values, as well as drivers of sustainable economic development and social cohesion. Furthermore, it supports NEMO’s mission to foster the development of a comprehensive cultural heritage strategy, in accordance with Article 3.3 of the Treaty on European Union.
NEMO's strategic framework aligns with the following international and European instruments:
- Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
- Treaty on European Union
- European Convention on Human Rights – Council of Europe
- Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro Convention) – Council of
- Europe
- Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections,
- their Diversity and their Role in Society - UNESCO
- Museum Definition and Code of Ethics – ICOM’
