On 5 and 6 May, the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) met to renew the certification "Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” to networks under regular evaluation as well as to award the certification to new Cultural Routes candidates. Representatives from the 35 member States of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe took part in the decision-making process.

On 1 April, the exhibition "Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Italy: a European heritage" was presented during a special side-event at the Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The Ministerial Conference “Creating our future: creativity and cultural heritage as strategic resources for a diverse and democratic Europe” gathered the Ministers of Culture of the member States of the Council of Europe.

The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe are subject to regular monitoring and three-year evaluation procedure through independent expert reports and recommendations. In 2022-2023, 14 certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe will undergo the process of regular evaluation. The call for applications for certification as “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” for the 2022-2023 Certification Cycle is open until 31st July 2022 for cultural routes networks, that already notified their intention to apply to the Secretariat.

From 24-25 March 2022, within the framework of the French Presidency of the European Union, the Directorate General of Heritage and Architecture of the Ministry of Culture of France organised the Colloquium “Heritage, museums, archives, architecture: what risks, what experiences in Europe?”.The event, which took place in Paris at the National Heritage Institute, was attended by Mr. Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary of the EPA and Director of the EICR, at the invitation of Mr. Bruno FAVEL, Representative of France to the EPA Governing Board.

On 20-23 April, the Euro Mediterranean Intercultural Dialogue Forum, celebrating Lebanon as the 35th member State of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA), took place on the Byblos Campus of the American Lebanese American University in Beirut. The Forum was the opportunity to celebrate Lebanon as the 35th member State of the EPA of the Council of Europe and for the inauguration of the Phoenicians’ Route Museum in the historical district of the Municipality of Jounieh as well to celebrate Bkassine as one of the best tourist villages in the world, as part of the initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and to visit network member sites along the Routes of the Olive Tree and Iter Vitis.

On 6 April, the certification ceremony of the “European Route of Historic Gardens” as “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” was celebrated in the framework of the General Assembly of the Association. It took place at the premises of the Santa Clotilde gardens in Lloret de Mar, Spain.The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) awarded the certification to the European Route of Historic Gardens at its annual Governing Board meeting in October 2020. 

On Tuesday 22 March Mr Stefano DOMINIONI – Executive Secretary of the EPA and Director of the EICR - delivered a speech on ‘The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe’s approach to Cultural Diplomacy’ at the 5th edition of the Workshop for Young Diplomats from BSEC Member States.The Workshop, held in Thessaloniki, Greece, was organised by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in cooperation with the Permanent International Secretariat of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC PERMIS).

On 9 May, the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme participated at the Europe Day in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg with a dedicated stand to the European Institute of Cultural Routes. This event took place for the first time in Esch-sur-Alzette, European Capital of Culture 2022. Each year, "Europe Day" pays tribute to Robert Schuman's declaration in 1950 by highlighting the European values of peace, unity, solidarity, democracy and freedom.

The Cyril and Methodius Route won the special prize of the COT group in the new category of the Best Sustainable Tourism Project at the 15th Tourism Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. It was one of the 15 awarded out of a total of 52 submitted projects in the field of Czech tourism. According to the jury, it is a successful sustainable tourism project. Its international overlap and origin in the Czech Republic to present Slavic culture and history were also positively viewed.

From 23 to 30 April, the historical ride of Emperor Charles V from Falkenberg/Mühlberg to Bleesern was recreated at the Museum Mühlberg 1547. In summer 1546, Emperor Charles V was preparing to go to war against the Protestant princes. It took place on April 24, 1547 and ended with a complete defeat of the Schmalkaldic army. The museum offers fascinating insights into the play of powers in the early 16th century.

On 3-6 April, the Liberation Route Europe (LRE) Foundation, in partnership with Normandy Tourism and Région Normandie, hosted the LRE Forum 2022 in Caen, France. The LRE Forum is an annual event bringing together international members, partners, and tourism stakeholders from the World War II remembrance sector, to network, hear updates from experts, and attend specialised travel trade events.