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Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes | 33 Member States, 1 Observer, 38 Cultural Routes
Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Newsletter January-February 2020

2019-2020 Certification Cycle: EPA Bureau meets in Luxembourg to discuss new applications
In preparation for the EPA Governing Board meeting of 1-3 April which will take place in Mondorf-les-Bains (Luxembourg), Bureau members gathered in Luxembourg on 13-14 February to discuss the evaluation of 3 candidate Routes for certification (Nikola Tesla Network, European Network of Historic Gardens, Via Romea Germanica), the regular 3-year evaluation of 8 Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, and the exceptional evaluation of 1 certified Cultural Route.
Georgia: Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of Local Authorities for the Promotion of Cultural Routes
On February 24, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia Mr. Mikheil CHKHENKELI and the President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia Mr. Kakhaber KALADZE signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Promotion of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
Liberation Route Europe: Forum 2020 and Certification Ceremony in Brussels
On 4-5 February, LRE Forum 2020 took place at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels (Belgium). On the occasion, the certification “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” was awarded to Liberation Route Europe.
“Iter Vitis Route” holds its International Assembly in Baku, Azerbaijan
On 27 January, the International Assembly of Iter Vitis Route took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. The initiative was led the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, and brought together representatives of Iter Vitis from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russian Federation.
EICR Board of Directors holds its Annual General Assembly in Luxembourg
Among the topics discussed, Board members presented the report of the activities carried out by the EICR in 2019 and the Cultural Routes Certification Cycle 2019-2020, and discussed the 2020 activity calendar.
SAVE THE DATE: Greece to host the 10th Annual Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes in Chania (Crete) on 7-9 October 2020
The 10th Annual Avisory Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe will focus on “Cultural Routes as drivers for the Creative Economy and Local Sustainable Development”.
News from the certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe:
The Hansa: Board Meeting in Luxembourg
On 6 February, the Board Meeting of the Hansa, Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, was held  at Neumünster Abbey, Headquarters of the Secretariat of the  Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) and the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR), in Luxembourg.
International Tourism Fair in Madrid, FITUR 2020
Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe were presented in 2020 Madrid International Tourism Fair, FITUR (Spain).
New projects of the European Routes of Emperor Charles V, the Routes of El Legado Andalusí, the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes and the Phoenicians’ Route were all highlighted in specific events.
Via Francigena: 2020-2022 Strategic Plan
The European Association of Vie Francigene (AEVF) presented the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan. Seven macro strategies and related operational actions have been identified with the aim of improving, increasing and defining activities along the Via Francigena, Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.
European Days of Jewish Culture: 20th Anniversary Preparatory Meeting in Luxembourg
On 20 January, a preparatory meeting on European Days of Jewish Culture's 20th was held at the EPA Headquarters in Luxembourg. The event will take place at Council of Europe's Headquarters in Strasbourg on 30 April 2020.
European Routes of Emperor Charles V: XVIII Equestrian Route of the Emperor
On 8 February, the 18th edition of the Equestrian Route of the Emperor took place attracting hundreds of horse riders. The Route connects Jarandilla de la Vera to the Monastery of Yuste (Spain), two key destinations of the European Routes of Emperor Charles V, Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.
ATRIUM: Docufilm on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
"Die Mauer - Il Muro" is the result of a journalistic field investigation which led to the interview of dozens of people among those who crossed the Berlin Wall, bringing on stage 4 true stories of determination, freedom and respect for human rights.
News from the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies:
Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca (UniMiB) joins the University Network on Cultural Routes Studies
UniMiB is the 12th academic institution to join the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies.
Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) joins the University Network on Cultural Routes Studies
UniMiB is the 11th academic institution to join the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies.
News from Cultural Route Projets:
Historical Outports Cultural Route project meeting in Brussels
On 16 January, the Secretariat met with Norwegian representatives of the Cultural Route project “Historic Outports of Agder” at Council of Europe Liason Office to the European Union in Brussels (Belgium).
Via Eurasia Project: Final Conference
On 6-7 February, the final conference “Italy, Greece and Turkey on Foot” took place in İzmit (Turkey). The conference was an excellent opportunity to present the results of the project and share best practices along the Via Eurasia, a news Cultural Route project.
Cultural Routes in the press
EPA on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
European Institute of Cultural Routes
Abbaye de Neumünster, 28 rue Münster
L-2160 Luxembourg
Tel. +352 24 12 50

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