Culture and Heritage: Democratic Governance Division
The action of the Council of Europe in the field of cultural heritage aims to promote diversity and dialogue through access to heritage, as a medium of identity and collective memory and as a factor of mutual understanding between peoples. The Council of Europe participates in the conservation, protection and enhancement of a common European heritage by strengthening the policy of human rights and democracy, considering heritage and the landscape as potential for human development, social, sustainable and economic, local regeneration and territorial attractiveness.
Les 4 Conventions Council of Europe heritage and landscape:
- Convention for the Safeguarding of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Granada, 1985);
- European Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Valletta, 1992);
- European Landscape Convention (Florence, 2000);
- Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro, 2005,)
Led by the Culture, Heritage and Landscape Steering Committee (CDCPP), the programs are numerous: European Heritage Days (JEP), European Cultural Routes (ICE), European Heritage Network: HEREIN network and the HEREIN Garden Network, the Strategy for European Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century, the Conferences of Heritage Ministers, the Faro Action Plan, etc.
Learn more about culture and heritage at the Council of Europe:
- Full list of Council of Europe treaties
- Culture, Heritage and Landscape Steering Committee (CDCPP)
- Culture and Cultural Heritage Standards
1. European Heritage Days (JEP)
Initiative launched in 1984 by France, taken over in 1991 by the Council of Europe and since 1999 has become a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission.
The JEP are now being organised in 50 countries, between the end of August and mid-October, this year, the theme proposed to all Europe is «art and entertainment»
You wish to:
- respond to thecall for tenders proposed every year for 2 years: Call for European Stories (Call published in March, submission in April, price: 10.000 €)
- en learn more about JEP: site Joint European Commission and Council of Europe
2. European Cultural Routes
Created in 1987, the cultural routes of the Council of Europe are an invitation to travel and discover the rich and diverse heritage of Europe by promoting the rapprochement of people in places of history and heritage. Cultural routes carry the values of the Council of Europe: human rights, cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and cross-border mutual exchange. There are now 38 certified European cultural routes, 30 of which pass through France.
You wish to:
- set up a project? Visit the website of Council of Europe
- en learn more about European cultural routes: sites of the ministry of culture ; of the French Federation of European Cultural Routes ; of the Council of Europe
3. European Heritage Network: HEREIN Network
Created in 1999 on the recommendation of heritage ministers, HEREIN is both:
- A European cultural heritage information network bringing together European public administrations responsible for national policies and strategies in the cultural heritage sector. This unique network of cooperation in the field of cultural heritage enables heritage administrations to cooperate, exchange information, etc., notably through thematic heritage surveys.
- A knowledge base on heritage in Europe, fed by these national coordinators, which offers an inventory of European heritage policies in 38 Council of Europe member states and a terminology (multilingual heritage thesaurus) in 14 European languages.
Learn more about heritage protection policies in Europe: HEREIN system
4. Garden Europe: HEREIN Garden Network
France has launched an initiative in favour of Europe of gardens, thanks to this HEREIN network. Several results have been obtained:
- Exchange of information on garden policies in Europe, setting up of an ERASMUS+ project for the exchange of professionals and know-how
- Extension of the “Rendez-vous aux jardins” to Europe in 2018: more than 2,000 private and public parks and gardens open simultaneously in 16 European countries, on the same theme “Europe of gardens”, on the same dates (1-2-3 June 2018) and more than 2 million visitors. The success of the operation continues with 20 participating countries in 2019, on the same theme «animals in the garden» and with the same visual as the French operation. More information on the site: https://rendezvousauxjardins.culture.gouv.fr/
The international association of the European Heritage Network (HEREIN aisbl), thanks to the dynamism of the Directorate-General for Heritage (Department of European and International Affairs and Heritage Service) in favour of garden policy in Europe has wished to publish a special series, as part of its collection of Carnets HEREIN.
This publication in two languages (English and French) provides an overview of garden policy in Europe, with the aim of fostering networking, the exchange of good practice, of original experiences and to witness the success of the various initiatives launched within the framework of the HEREIN network in the garden.
Consult in interactive PDF «l'Europe des Jardins - The Europe of Gardens»
You wish to:
- participate in the next edition of the Rendez-vous aux jardins en Europe on 5-6-7 June 2020 on the theme: «knowledge transfer»? Register on: European Agenda
- en learn more about garden policy in Europe: HEREIN au Jardin ; Go to the gardens; special feature on the site All of Europe
5. Strategy for European Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century: Strategy 21
This Strategy proposes, through recommendations, avenues for action:
- Social component “S”: heritage relations with societies, citizens, the transmission and sharing of democratic values, participatory governance methods, good governance and participatory management, etc.
- Territorial and Economic Development “D”: relations of cultural heritage with territorial development, the economy and the attractiveness of territories, in compliance with the principles of sustainable development, etc.
- Knowledge and Education: relationships between heritage and shared knowledge, from awareness raising to research, through initial and lifelong learning.
Each recommendation is accompanied by examples of good practice. To date, more than a hundred good practices have been sent and posted on the website dedicated to this Strategy 21.
You wish to:
- enhance your projects ? Fill out the form, listing your project in one of the 3 components of this Strategy 21: social / territorial and economic development / knowledge and education
- en learn more: Strategy 21
6. Conferences of Heritage Ministers
LEuropean Ministers responsible for cultural heritage meet regularly. The last meeting was held in Namur, Belgium, in April 2015, on the theme Cultural heritage on the 21stth century to better live together. Towards a common strategy for Europe ».
Two texts were adopted: l'Namur callto strengthen European cooperation to prevent and condemn deliberate destruction of cultural heritage and illicit trafficking, and Namur Declaration, to define the objectives and recommendations for a European Heritage Strategy for the 21st century.
Read more on the 6th Conference of Ministers Responsible for Cultural Heritage “Cultural heritage in the 21st century to better live together. Towards a common strategy for Europe”
7. Faro Action Plan
The Faro Convention Action Plan aims to put into practice the principles of the Faro Convention. This Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (known as the Faro Convention) was adopted in 2005 and entered into force in 2011 (in 2018, 18 Council of Europe member states ratified it and 5 signed it). Implementation of the Convention is coordinated through the Faro Action Plan.
The purpose of the Action Plan is to illustrate the richness and innovation of the principles of the Convention and to provide opportunities for interpretation in relation to the challenges facing today’s society.
A 2018-2019 Guide to the Faroe Convention Action Plan was developed by the Secretariat of the Council of Europe in consultation with the members of the Faroe Convention Network (RCF), to provide guidance to heritage communities that intend to align their initiatives with the principles of the Faro Convention and participate in a pan-European network.
Learn more:
Partager la page