The European Federation of Fortified Sites (EFFORTS) network, based in Brussels, was founded in 2017 in the Spandau Citadel. As a lobby organisation, EFFORTS is the interface between European institutions and fortified monuments or networks that deal with the preservation and use of the European cultural heritage of fortified  monuments. In addition to practical work on joint studies and projects on the cultural heritage of fortresses, the cooperation agreement also includes both networks expanding their membership base through reciprocal associate memberships. As a result, the FORTE CULTURA network will grow to 67 members from 17 countries.