MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
25th Anniversary of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention
- Florence Convention -
27 - 28 October 2025 
Villa Medicea "La Petraia", Florence, Italy
Programme
09:20 - 09:50: Arrival and registration of participants
09:50 - 10:00: Family Photo for Heads of delegation
The Conference will be moderated by Mr Rafael BENITEZ, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe
10:00 - 10:30: Opening session
- Mr Alessandro GIULI, Minister of Culture of Italy
- Mr Bjørn BERGE, Deputy Secretary General, Council of Europe
- Mr Gilberto PICHETTO FRATIN, Minister of the Environment and Energy Security of Italy (pre-recorded statement)
- Ms Aurora FLORIDIA, Senator of the Italian Republic, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
- Mr Marc COOLS, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe (pre-recorded statement)
10:30 - 11:45: 25 Years of Achievements of the Convention
Building on the Reykjavík Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, this session will address ways and means of strengthening landscape action in response to the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss.
Ministers will engage and exchange ideas on the milestones, achievements and impact of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention, including at the national level.
- Ms Marta RODRIGUES, Chair of the 13th Conference on the Implementation of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention
11:45 - 12:00: Coffee Break
12:00 - 13:30: Future of the Florence Convention
Building on the conclusions of the previous session, in this session the Ministers will explore solutions, innovative approaches and the role of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention in light of the Reykjavík Declaration.
- Mr Gianluca SILVESTRINI, Head a.i. of the Reykjavík Process and the Environment Department, Council of Europe
13:30 - 13:45: Ceremony of Presentation of the European Diploma for Protected Areas
13:45 - 14:00: Adoption of the declaration and the closing remarks
- Mr Bjørn BERGE, Deputy Secretary General, Council of Europe
- Mr Alessandro GIULI, Minister of Culture of Italy
14:00 - 15:30: Official Lunch for Heads of delegation at Villa La Petraia
Useful links
- Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law
- Reykjavik Declaration - United around our Values - Appendix 5 - The Council of Europe and the Environment
- Reykjavík process and the Environment
- Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP)
- CoE Strategy on the Environement
- Ministero della Cultura
- Ad hoc Multidisciplinary Group on the Environment (GME)
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
About the Conference
Opened for signature in Florence in 2000, the Council of Europe Landscape Convention, also known as the Florence Convention, has become one of the most widely ratified treaties of the Organisation, introducing an innovative and inclusive vision of landscapes as a foundation for quality of life, cultural heritage and democratic governance. Over the past 25 years, it has guided policies recognising all landscapes as a shared resource requiring protection, management and planning.
Co-organised by the Council of Europe and the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Conference celebrated this legacy while looking ahead to the future. In light of the Reykjavík Declaration and the Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment, discussions focused on strengthening multilateral co-operation, encouraging wider accession, and promoting effective implementation of the Convention at national and international levels. By addressing present and emerging challenges - including the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss - the Conference reaffirmed the Convention’s pivotal role and adopted a strategic Declaration to guide landscape action across Europe and beyond.
Council of Europe Landscape Convention (ETS No. 176)
| Protocol amending the European Landscape Convention (CETS No. 219) |
Learn more about our activities
Side Events
27 October 2025:
- Meeting of representatives of the States Parties and Observers / Technical Meeting (afternoon)
Draft Programme of the Technical Meeting
- Cultural events highlighting Florence’s rich history and cultural heritage (afternoon and evening)
28 October 2025:
- Ceremony presenting the European Diploma for Protected Areas, awarded to the Sierra Nevada National Park, Nature Park and Biosphere Reserve (Spain)
Participation and Registration
The Ministerial Conference was open exclusively to invited and registered participants, including Ministers and members of ministerial delegations, state civil servants responsible for landscape management at central and decentralised levels, local and regional representatives, as well as key stakeholders from academic, professional and associative fields, both at national and international levels. Representatives of the Council of Europe’s institutions, bodies and relevant committees also took part in the Conference.
Registration by invitation only 
Registration deadline: 22 October 2025
