On 8 October, the Committee of the member States of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA) composed of the 35 Permanent Representatives of the member States to the Council of Europe met in the premises of the Council of Europe (Palais de l’Europe, Strasbourg) to discuss the draft programme and budget for 2022-2025. On this occasion, Ambassador Patrick ENGELBERG (Luxembourg) was elected as the new Chair of the Statutory Committee of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA). Mr. Julien VUILLEUMIER (Switzerland), Chair of the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes attended the opening of the meeting.

Established in 2010, the EPA on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe follows the Council of Europe’s policy guidelines, decides the Programme strategy and awards the “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” certification". It is open to member and non-member States of the Council of Europe aiming at providing political support for national, regional and local initiatives to promote cultural heritage and cultural tourism in a European perspective.

Currently, the EPA on Cultural Routes has 35 member States.