We believe in diversity as a force for democracy and encourage dialogue as a means of building peace.

Our vision reflects the values of a democratic, dynamic, integrated and creative European society.

We strive towards a Europe where the diversity of cultures, the arts, and cultural and natural heritage are essential to the development of a genuine openness of mind and basic rights, and where open and interactive processes and practices of culture encompass different elements that combine to help us deal with the complexities of living with ourselves and one another. (more...)

Headline news ... (06/02/2012)

Meeting of the Group of Specialists on the European Diploma of Protected Areas

The Group of Experts on the European Diploma of Protected Areas meets in Strasbourg on 9-10 February 2012 for their annual meeting. The Group will examine two new applications for the Diploma, to be presented by the Armenian Government for the Khosrov Forest State Reserve and the Irish authorities for the Burren region. Based on the expert visit reports carried out, the Group will also discuss the Draft Resolutions concerning the renewal of the Diploma, to be then forwarded to the Committee of Ministers for final adoption. (more...) [03/02/2012]

Tokyo Declaration on a Partnership between Intercultural Cities

A symposium on Intercultural City Encounters Europe-Asia was organised in Tokyo on 18-19 January by the Council of Europe and the Japan Foundation. The 200 participants included nine Mayors from European, Japanese and Korean Cities, European, Japanese and Korean experts and Directors of specialist integration departments of invited cities. The symposium and associated events explored the potential of leveraging cultural diversity for community building in European, Japanese and Korean contexts, and compared intercultural policies, good practices and challenges. [03/02/2012]

Tokyo Declaration

Council of Europe Cultural Events Label (CECEL) – call for 2012 candidates

The label is awarded annually to a small number of exceptional and innovative cultural projects organised in Europe which convey a strong message relevant to the Council of Europe’s work and critical issues of European societies. The deadline for entries is the 30 June 2012. (more...) [30/01/2012]

Application form

Presentation of the Herein 3 database

The new Herein 3 database presented on 19 December 2011, has been designed in line with Article 14 of the Faro Convention which encourages the development of the "use of digital technology to enhance access to cultural heritage and the benefits which derive from it". The new database will provide an overview of heritage policies in Europe and promote exchange of good practice. For the first time, states will be able to enter and update data on their heritage policies directly; allow the public to retrieve, analyse and compare data on the different European heritage policies and enable follow-up of the CoE heritage conventions (via targeted case-studies). The new Herein 3 tool was made possible thanks to generous contributions from Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Finland, France, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland. [19/12/2011]

Special file

CultureWatchEurope: Reflections on the crisis and renewal in European art and culture

A number of high-ranking policy makers, leading thinkers and practitioners in the cultural sector gathered for 1 ½ days in November in Bled, Slovenia, for reflections on responsible cultural policy making and modern cultural governance. [25/01/2012]

Conference statement

Meeting of the Scientific Committee of the European Academic Network on Romani Studies

The second meeting of the Scientific Committee of the European Academic Network on Romani Studies took place in Brussels on 14 December 2012. The meeting was focused on organisational issues of the network and presentations of the managers of the European Commission in Roma and Roma-related areas. [15/12/2011]

Cultural Policy Review Turkey

Experts and Turkish officials met in Paris on 13 December to exchange on latest developments in the Cultural Policy Review of Turkey and plan the next stage of this review, including the possibility of holding a Cultural Policy Seminar in spring 2012. [15/12/2011]

The European Dimension of Heritage Days Events

A meeting on The European Dimension of Heritage Days Events was held in Strasbourg from 11 to 12 December 2011. Different European Dimension events were analysed and proposed for the 2012 European Heritage Days. [13/12/2011]

Special file

Informal consultation meeting of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of CDCULT and CDPATEP

In preparation for the first session of the new Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) in 2012, an informal consultation meeting of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of CDCULT and CDPATEP took place in Paris office on 12 December 2011. Members of the Secretariat and Committee delegates discussed the new CDCPP's main tasks, CoE's intervention instruments, structures and working methods and the practical steps for the preparations of the first plenary session 2012. [13/12/2011]

* All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or populations, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo

Disclaimer - ©Council of Europe - ©photo credit | Access to the Council of Europe | Contact us