Dr Anna Steiner, Vice-President of the Committee, chaired the three-day session, reviewing the work accomplished in 2025 and outlining the priorities ahead for the Committee in 2026-2027. Committee members thanked their outgoing Chair, Carmen Croitoru, for having represented the Committee at a wide range of meetings and events in 2025, and for her work and dedication. The Committee took note of the CM decision on revising its Terms of Reference and on becoming the Steering Committee for Culture and Heritage (CDCULT) from 1 January 2026.
Following up on the debates at the World Forum for Democracy and the ongoing consultations on the New Democratic Pact for Europe, the CDCPP held a thematic debate on “The role of culture and cultural heritage for democracy and democratic participation” reaffirming its commitment to a democratic culture, free and accessible to all. The thematic debate and its conclusions, alongside a report from academic institutions conducted under the aegis of the Committee, will constitute its contribution to the New Democratic Pact consultations.
The Committee expressed its solidarity and support for Ukraine, while underlying the importance of culture as a resource for civic and democratic resilience in times of the ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
This year, the CDCPP continued developing three projects supporting freedom of artistic expression. Dr Katalin Krasznahorkai presented recent developments on the discursive platform “Free to Create – Create to Be Free,” which should offer a space for resources and reflection on the challenges of artistic freedom of expression. She also renewed the call to member states to participate in the Council of Europe digital exhibition “Free to Create - Create to be Free”. Ana Martinovic shared her work on creating an awareness course on artistic freedom of expression for artists and cultural institutions. Sara Whyatt gave a progress update on the preparation of the second report on the state of artistic freedom of expression in Europe. This report will analyse conditions for artistic freedom of expression in member States, mechanisms for institutional independence, challenges in the digital age, as well as instruments for providing emergency support. The Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends introduced their work on the freedom of artistic expression resulting from a recent conference organised jointly with the Luxembourg government as a follow-up to the Committee of Ministers Luxembourg Presidency’s priorities on culture.
In the area of heritage, the Committee approved the handbook for raising awareness among young people and children on the prevention of offences related to cultural property, in line with the Nicosia Convention, while encouraging member States to join the Convention. Focus on youth and an emphasis on grassroot initiatives were amongst the highlights during a panel discussion on the European Heritage Days programme moderated by Liam Montgomery, Vice-Chair of the EHD Assembly of National Coordinators, with examples of local civic heritage initiatives in line with the Faro Convention from Latvia, Spain and Ukraine. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Faro Convention, the Committee encouraged the continuation of local and national initiatives under the framework Convention, while underlying the value of the Convention’s principles for promoting participation in heritage across Europe as a factor of democratic participation and cooperation.
The Committee unveiled and discussed the preliminary Draft Recommendation on the role of culture and heritage in promoting equality and non-discrimination, prepared in cooperation with the Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI).
The Landscape sector outlined its current and upcoming priorities, especially the recent Ministerial Conference held in Florence to mark the 25th anniversary of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention, as well as the results of the 12th conference on the implementation of the Convention, while noting its integration into the newly created Steering Committee for the Environment (CDENV).
The Committee expressed its support for the activities of the Eurimages and Cultural Routes Enlarged Partial Agreements, calling for further synergies within the cultural and heritage sectors across the Organisation including PACE and the Congress.
Finally, the Committee adopted a set of criteria for attribution of the observer status with the Committee to civil society organisations.
Following the elections, the composition of the new Bureau, effective as from 1 January 2026, is as follows:
- Chair: Anna Steiner (Austria)
- Vice-chair: Muzaffer Tolunay Saraç (Türkiye)
- Araz Baghirli (Azerbaijan)
- Mirna Sabljak (Croatia)
- Mihkel Kaevats (Estonia)
- Fabian Richter (Germany)
- Baldur Guðmundsson (Iceland)
- Barbara Zeches (Luxembourg)
- Sergio Vidal (Spain)
