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Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes | 33 Member States, 3 Observer States, 38 Cultural Routes, European Institute of Cultural Routes (Luxembourg)
Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Newsletter December 2019

Happy New Year!
2019 highlights:
2019 was another very successful year for the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme!
The Secretariat would like to thank all Member States, Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, partner institutions and colleagues for their 2019 achievements. We very much look forward to continuing our collaboration in 2020. For more information on our forthcoming activities, stay tuned for our next monthly Newsletter!

The EPA Secretariat
Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe highlighted in the UNWTO/UNESCO 4th World Conference Declaration on Tourism and Culture
On 12-13 December, the UNWTO/UNESCO 4th Conference on Culture and Tourism:  Investing in future generations took place in Kyoto, Japan. The Conference conclusions laid down in the Kyoto Declaration state the vital role played by the Cultural Routes in the framework of sustainable development of cultural tourism and better understanding of shared values.
Georgia: 1st Training Seminar on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe for EPA member States
On 5-6 December, the European Institute of Cultural Routes delivered a Training seminar in Tbilisi, Georgia. It was the first Training seminar organized and delivered upon request from a member State of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA).
Georgia makes a voluntary contribution to the EPA on Cultural Routes
In the framework of the Georgian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Georgia made a voluntary contribution in order to further support the statutory activities of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA).
6 new members join the European Route of Megalithic Culture: Certification Ceremony, “Leave no stone unturned!” International Conference
On 3-5 December, the International Conference “Leave no stone unturned! Megaliths in conference” was held in Sankelmark, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany). On the occasion of the Conference, the Accession Certificates were delivered to the new members of the European Route of Megalithic Culture network.
Website upgraded with new content and media now online
Detailed information on Statutory activities with complete documentation are now online, together with many useful Resources such as reference texts, Programme’s publications, studies and documents as well as visibility materials in many different languages of the EPA members States, monthly newsletters, videos and much more.

Visit www.coe.int/routes to find out what's new on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme’s Website!
News from EPA member States:
Italy: European Heritage Label Information Day highlights complementarity with Cultural Routes
On 26 November, the “Europe and Cultural Heritage Promotion: the European Heritage Label” Information Day was held in Florence. The event was organized by the Secretariat General-Service I of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, represented by Mrs Elisabetta SCUNGIO, representative of Italy to the EPA Governing Board.
The Day was an opportunity to promote visibility and stimulate networking and funding opportunities for the European Heritage Label sites and the whole European heritage. During the event, Mrs Luisella PAVAN-WOOLFE, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Venice, presented the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme.
News from the "Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe":
European Routes of Emperor Charles V: Ommegang listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List
On 11 December, the “Ommegang” of Brussels was registered on UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Ommegang is the annual historical procession with which Brussels (Belgium) recalls the first visit to the city of Emperor Charles V in the company of his son, Felipe II, and an event that is nowadays part of the heritage of the European Routes of Emperor Charles V.
European Route of Jewish Heritage: participation at the Working Group on Antisemitism of the European Commission
On 10 December, François MOYSE, President of the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ), participated at the Working Group on Antisemitism of the European Parliament (WGAS) in Brussels (Belgium) and presented the work the Route developed with its network in the field of Jewish heritage and culture in Europe.
In the Footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson: Annual Walk in the Fontainebleau Forest
On 20 October, the Association “Robert Louis Stevenson de Barbizon à Grez” organised its annual hike in the Forest of Fontainebleau linked to the trail followed by Stevenson from Grez-sur-Loing and Larchant to Recloses (France). For the first time people with disabilities seated in “joëlettes” took part in the walk and other various activities.
European Route of Historic Thermal Towns: 10th Anniversary of the Association
On 10 December, the 10th Anniversary of the founding of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) was celebrated by sharing a video released by the new President Mr. Manuel BALTAR, President of the Province of Ourense (Spain). The Anniversary was also celebrated with a series of events on the occasion of the Annual EHTTA General Assembly and the European Thermal Heritage Days last October.
Route of the Olive Tree: Ancient Olive Trees Congress and Honorary Membership
On 29 November the Ancient Olive Trees Congress was held in Sénia Territory in Ulldecona (Tarragona, Spain) in which representatives of the Route of the Olive Tree, announced the recognition of the “Millenarian Olive Trees” project as honorary member of the Route. During the Congress both the Council of Europe Cultural Routes Programme and the Route of the Olive Tree were presented.
Cluniac Sites in Europe: launch of the application to the UNESCO World Heritage List
The project to register “Cluny and Cluniac Sites” on the UNESCO World Heritage List was made official on 18 October at Cluny Abbey (France). The project will be coordinated by the European Federation of Cluniac Sites managing the “Cluniac Sites in Europe” certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. The Federation already ratified a partnership agreement with the French National Monument Centre (CMN) and plans to mobilize local communities and stakeholders.
News from the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies:
Compostela Group of Universities: “Linking University Knowledge on the Camino”
The project “Linking University Knowledge on the Camino” was held on 18-25 October in Santiago de Compostela and 17 Galician municipalities. Rectors, professors, students and services staff of the Galician universities and three member Universities of the Compostela Group of Universities (GCU) from Spain, Portugal and Mexico participated. The main objectives of this Project were the exchange of scientific-technological knowledge, the promotion of creativity, joint work and the strengthening of links and networks between participants and their Universities.
Cultural Routes in the International 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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