Back “Come and support your European Cultural Route” exhibition opens at European Parliament

Strasbourg , 

"We are committed towards the European Union's full membership of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on cultural Routes as soon as possible. This will enable us to forge even closer links between the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council of Europe," said Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, when inaugurating the "Come and support your European Cultural Route" exhibition on 25 February.

Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Industry, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Silvia Costa, a Member of the European Parliament, as well as officials responsible for the various routes, including the Via Francigena, the European Route of Ceramics and the Hansa Route, were also present.

On this occasion, Mr Tajani said: "Members of the European Parliament will see that the European cultural routes have great potential. With 90 % of roads widely unexplored in rural areas, the old continent can still attract and surprise a lot of new visitors".

"Cultural routes are a metaphor for the values of a more integrated Europe: a united and shared path, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, a connection between generations […]," added Ms Costa.

Europe has a wide range of cultural routes for tourists to follow, spanning a number of regions or countries and offering a living example of Europe's rich and impressive common heritage.

The aim of the exhibition is to show MEPs what is being done in practical terms to develop and promote new forms of tourism based on Europe's rich cultural heritage. The 26 cultural routes presented, all of them certified Council of Europe Cultural Routes, benefit from European Union support.

The "Come and support your European Cultural Route" exhibition will be held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (Low - North Gallery) from 24 to 27 February.

Speech

For more information: