In the framework of the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the German representatives implemented several activities to further promote the Cultural Routes in Germany.

One highlight of these activities is a roll-up exhibition presenting the 25 Cultural Routes which are crossing Germany. The opening of the exhibition is planned for April in the premisses of the Council of Europe in Strasburg. After the ending of the German Chairmanship, the exhibition will travel through Germany promoting the programme to the public in several locations, starting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin.

28 roll-ups underline and display with colourful pictures each routes’ main objectives and characteristics.

The exhibition was commissioned by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and produced in a joint effort of the Cultural Routes representatives in Germany under the lead of the European Centre for Culture and Information in Thuringia.

In addition to the exhibition, the German representatives are currently publishing a handbook on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme, its characteristics, and the benefits of the certification. In October 2020, the fifth edition of the Cycle of Webinars  “Cultural Routes Dialogues: challenges and opportunities post Covid-19” took place in Germany and was organised in cooperation between the EPA Secretariat and the German representatives of Cultural Routes.

The Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe changes every 6 months and is currently held by Germany until the 21 May 2021. The priorities of the German Presidency are defined under the headlines “Upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law”, “Shaping the future” and “Bringing Europe closer to the people”.  

Germany is with almost 300 network members a major participant in the Cultural Routes Programme. It became a member of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in 2013. Dr. Brigitta RINGBECK, Representative of the German Foreign Office, is currently the Chairperson of the EPA Governing Board.

Information on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Germany can also be found in a brochure, which was published in 2020 and on the EPA dedicated page to Germany.