On 18 February in Venice during the International Conference “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Italy: a European Heritage”, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, former Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, received the European Cultural routes Career Award.

In her acceptance speech Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni recalled that “The Cultural Routes encourage intercultural dialogue. They do so to the extent that they turn on the spotlight on Europe's intrinsic and rich cultural diversity, connecting travelers with same interests and emphasizing the value of diversity but also how it makes us closer as European citizens.”