The Bureau of the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) held its annual meeting on 28-29 February 2024 in Luxembourg.

The meeting was opened by Mrs. Urszula ŚLĄZAK, Chair of the EPA Governing Board, and by Ambassador Jean-Claude KUGENER, President of the European Institute of Cultural Routes (Luxembourg). Mrs Meltem ÖNHON (Türkiye), the EPA Vice-Chair, Mr. Sergio ORTEGA MUÑOZ (Spain), and Mrs Eszter CSONKA-TAKACS (Hungary) also took part in the meeting.  

The Bureau discussed the 2023-2024 certification cycle that evaluates 9 Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe under regular evaluation, 1 exceptional evaluation and 4 annual reports, as well as  5 new candidates for certification. The Bureau prepares the EPA Governing Board meeting to take place on 21-22 May 2024 in Luxembourg. 

Candidate routes include:  

• European Route of Historic Pharmacies
• Paganini Route
• European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations
• Leonardo Da Vinci Route
• Via Querinissima

The meeting was also the opportunity to discuss the preparation of the 13th Annual Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes to take place in Visegrád, Hungary, on 25-27 September 2024. 

The Governing Board is responsible for the general implementation of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme and for the award the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe certification. The EPA is currently composed of 40 member States.