The Contracting Parties undertake to co-operate in catering for the landscape dimension in international policies and programmes, and to recommend as appropriate the inclusion of landscape considerations in these policies and programmes.

They accordingly undertake to co-operate in respect of technical and scientific assistance and exchange of landscape specialists for training and information, and to exchange information on all matters covered by the Convention.

Council of Europe Conferences on the European Landscape Convention

Council of Europe Conferences on the European Landscape Convention

Organised by the Secretariat General of the Council of Europe at the Palais de l’Europe, the Council of Europe Conferences on the European Landscape Convention, aim to present the progress made in the implementation of the Convention, and to deal with the practical questions relating to its implementation in accordance with its Article 10. The conclusions of the Conference are brought to the attention of the Committee of Experts mentioned in this Article – the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP), according to the decision of the Committee of Ministers –, which then reports to the Committee of Ministers. Representatives of the Parties to the Convention and signatory States participate in them, as do representatives of the main Council of Europe bodies: the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations with participatory status at the Council of Europe. Also present with observer status are representatives of Council of Europe member States that are not yet Parties or signatories, Observer States, as well as international governmental and non-governmental organisations with an interest in the subject.

The results of the work of the Council of Europe meetings for the implementation of the Convention, the working groups responsible for drafting recommendations, the thematic reports produced by Council of Europe experts and Proposals formulated for action, as well as the proposals of the International Juries for the Landscape Award of the Council of Europe, are presented to these Conferences, with the aim of preparing draft decisions submitted to the Steering Committee in charge of the Convention.

Council of Europe Meetings of the Workshops for the implementation of the Convention

Council of Europe Meetings of the Workshops for the implementation of the Convention

Organised periodically by the Council of Europe, the Meetings of the Workshop for the implementation of the Convention, these Meetings aim to present new concepts and achievements. They represent a real forum for exchanging practices and ideas. Special emphasis is given to the experiences of the State hosting the meeting.

Council of Europe National and Regional Symposiums on the implementation of the Convention

Council of Europe National and Regional Symposiums on the implementation of the Convention

National or regional symposiums – or information meetings – are organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the host State in order to foster debate on landscape and the adoption of policies for the implementation of the Convention. They provide a forum for debate on landscape and landscape policies, with the participation of government representatives, professionals, representatives of the population and the private sector.

International Landscape Day of the Council of Europe

International Landscape Day of the Council of Europe

The International Landscape Day of the Council of Europe is celebrated each year on 20 October, the day of the opening of the Convention for signature.

Mutual assistance and the exchange of information

Mutual assistance and the exchange of information

To ensure exchanges of information and monitoring of the implementation of the Convention in the various member States Parties, a document setting out the landscape policies pursued in the member States has been produced on a regular basis and presented on the occasion of the Council of Europe Conferences on the Convention.

The use of the Information System of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention, set up pursuant to Recommendation CM/Rec(2013)4 of the Committee of Ministers, provides on-line access to information concerning national policies. Addressed to authorities, organisations or citizens seeking useful information on landscape policies, A Glossary has been produced in order to explain certain terms employed.

The Parties to the Convention are invited to make use of this Information System in the context of their co-operation, to work together on developing it further and to continue to exchange information on the matters covered by the provisions of the Convention, in order to promote an awareness of landscapes and the policies relating to them.

Reference documents

Publications:

Transfrontier co-operation

Transfrontier co-operation

Transfrontier landscapes are the subject of a specific provision: “The Parties shall encourage transfrontier co-operation on local and regional level and, wherever necessary, prepare and implement joint landscape programmes”. Recommendation CM/Rec(2008)3 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the guidelines for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention also pays particular attention to the management of transfrontier landscapes.

The Recommendation CM/Rec(2015)8 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the implementation of Article 9 of the European Landscape Convention on Transfrontier Landscapes considers that it is important for appropriate consideration to be given to landscape and its environmental, cultural, social and economic values as a development factor for local societies, and recommends that the States Parties to the Convention promote co-operation focusing on transfrontier landscapes by encouraging local and regional authorities to work together to draw up, where appropriate, joint landscape-enhancement programmes for implementation of the Convention on transfrontier landscapes, and calls on the Parties concerned to inform the other Parties to the Convention, in the framework of the Council of Europe Information System on the Convention, of the co-operation programmes drawn up and put in place, in order to foster an exchange of experiences.

Reference documents

Proceedings of the Council of Europe Meetings of the Workshops for the implementation of the Convention:

Publications:

Reports:

Journals: