On 7^th June 2018, was held the first international meeting of the European Silk Route project in Venice, Italy. The meeting was attended by Mrs Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mrs Luisella Pavan-Woolfe, Director of the Council of Europe Venice Office, Mrs Paola Mar, Councillor for tourism of the City of Venice, Mrs Maria Teresa De Gregorio, Director of the Venetian Region, Mr Umberto Vattani, President of the Venice International University, Mr Michel Thomas-Penette, independent expert on the European Silk Route and international, national and local stakeholders.

The meeting was the opportunity to discuss the development of a European Silk Route project, to become a possible future candidate for certification as “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe”. Mr Stefano Dominioni, Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe presented the programme, its methodology and added value.