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 regional planning (urban and spatial planning);
cultural heritage (monuments, architectural ensembles and cultural landscapes);
the environment and the protection of nature (biological diversity and landscape);
regional and local development (economic activity and job creation);
culture (defence and promotion of identities, cultural diversity, society’s value system);
cultural tourism;
social policies (social justice/cohesion/solidarity)
through the improvement of the quality of life (improvement of housing, infrastructures, public spaces, prevention of natural catastrophes, management of post-conflicts, etc.)
Action in the field and political cooperation
Co-operation projects concern mainly the development of long-term
intervention programmes and the definition of priority strategies
and actions which aim to improve the living standards of the
populations concerned. The projects are chosen to serve as models
(pilot projects), as an experiment for new management methods and as
a framework for the elaboration of innovative concepts.
Although the activities are based on concrete actions, they mainly
target national policies in encouraging States to commit themselves
to a process of institutional reform and the strengthening of
operational mechanisms and project management tools. These
technical, administrative and legislative co-operation activities
concern mainly:
follow-up of the Council of Europe conventions, elaboration of
standards and best practice;
institutional capacity-building, elaboration of management and
strategic tools accompanied by appropriate transfers of competencies
affected through professional and institutional networking;
elaboration of operational development strategies and programmes as
a contribution to the improvement of the environment and living
standards and as a factor of dialogue, reconciliation and tolerance;
contribution to education in democratic citizenship and promotion of
local and regional democracy, through a participative process and
the elaboration of projects respecting principles and rules of law;
protection and integration of minorities and of vulnerable groups in
a spirit of solidarity, social cohesion and social justice.
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The Technical Co-operation and Consultancy Programme related to the integrated conservation of the cultural heritage was set up by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 1977 as a direct consequence of the significant amount of public and political awareness gained during the European Architectural Heritage Year ("A Future for our Past", 1975). It adopted rules governing the provision of the Programme which was expanded substantially with the ratification in 1985 of the
