Its activities are coordinated by an International Secretariat based in The Hague (Netherlands), assisted by volunteers from various country representations.

This awards scheme aims to promote high standards and high-quality skills in conservation practice and to stimulate trans-frontier exchange in heritage protection.

Europa Nostra supports national and international campaigns for the preservation and rescue of Europe's heritage which is in danger.

In January 2013, with the European Investment Bank Group, represented by the EIB Institute, it launched the 7 Most Endangered Programme, aiming to identify endangered monuments and sites in Europe and to mobilize public and private partners at the local, national, and European levels, to find a future for those sites, working as a catalyst for action.

[9] The 7 Most Endangered sites and monuments for 2013 were selected from a shortlist of 14 prepared by an international panel that reviewed 40 nominations from member organizations from 21 countries.

Europa Nostra is a partner of Wiki Loves Monuments, the Wikipedia photo contest around cultural heritage.

It also holds smaller-scale national, regional and local meetings and debates with heritage NGOs in different parts of Europe.

This magazine contains articles related to cultural heritage actors and initiatives in the country or the city which hosts the annual congress of Europa Nostra.