Check against delivery

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be with you at a critical stage in this ambitious project.

The City of Venice has been working for some time on the concept of a European Silk Route that will take its place in the network of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes.

And the progress made so far owes a great deal to the City and to Tourism Councillor Paola Mar.

Today provides the opportunity both to exchange knowledge and ideas, and for those who wish to support it, to coalesce, strategise and plan the next steps forward.

So to the representatives of cities, local and regional authorities and academic and cultural institutions in this room, I not only extend my warm welcome, but encourage you to play your part in working with the City of Venice to shape the future plan.

Certainly, the Council of Europe wants this project to succeed.

We are here to provide the information and support that will help you to deliver, and we are here to listen to your ideas too.

I know that Luisella Pavan Woolfe, who heads our office here in Venice, is already engaged, as is the European Institute of Cultural Routes in Luxembourg.

This morning I would like to begin with some context about our Cultural Routes Programme.

Because this context brings into sharper relief the role that a European Silk Route could take in our broader constellation – and the benefits it could bring to those sites and destinations that take part.

The Council of Europe has always been aware of the importance of culture and heritage.

Since 1949, these have taken a central role in our mission to enhance human rights, democracy and the rule of law – and to promote greater unity within the European family of nations.

The Santiago de Compostela Declaration in 1987 was a new departure aimed at achieving those aims.

Its Programme envisaged Cultural Routes as voyages of discovery for curious Europeans.

This would be a grassroots movement promoting democratic participation.

Participants from across Europe and beyond would have the chance to learn about one another, overcome their differences and celebrate their diversity too.

And by doing this in the context of heritage and history, they would gain a better grounding not just in their local, regional, or national identity – but in their common European identity too.

This was about diversity and mutual understanding, intercultural dialogue and cultural diplomacy.

That vision became reality over 30 years ago – and it has gone from strength to strength.

There are now 33 certified routes, winding through all 47 Council of Europe member states and beyond, upheld and promoted by more than 1,000 network members.

Each operates as a transnational network, bringing together multiple European stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.

This means that cultural routes networks involve representatives from municipalities and local authorities, education establishments and cultural institutions, non-profit enterprises and civil society organisations and of course from the business, economic and professional sectors, including – critically – the tourist industry.

Together, these networks can leverage the skills to put their cultural routes on the map.

They bring together people from all sorts of cultural, geographical and social backgrounds to undercover and celebrate the heritage and history of their continent.

To shape the future of democratic citizenship.

And to contribute to local development too.

By opening up access to culture for all, through sustainable tourism at the local level, they are doing exactly that.

The 33 routes have all been selected and developed because of their unique circumstances and offering.

Those who follow them can expect to discover not only monuments, historical artefacts and archaeological sites, but landscapes, local produce and practices as well as traditions, beliefs and narratives.

This is a unique cultural offering for tourists.

Because the Programme reaches out to local SMEs and supports their contribution to the local economy – especially in less-developed, rural areas – we are able to generate tourism that enhances the cultural well-being of visitors and the economic well-being of residents alike.

Given that 90% of the territories crossed by the routes are off-the-beaten-track rural areas, sensitive development of local industries – whether in relation to transport, products, or food and accommodation – can be particularly valuable.

We are committed to supporting this in a respectful and sustainable way that maintains the heritage of local people and enhances their environment too.

Economic inclusion for local people is therefore not just a by-product of the Programme, but a practical and beneficial aim.

So, a network of organised and equipped individuals.

A compelling narrative and set of cross-border destinations whose history is awaiting exploration.

And the capacity to leverage visitors, tourists and pilgrims to the benefit of sustainable culture and economy alike.

Does a European Silk Route have the capacity to meet these key criteria?

There is little doubt that the answer is yes.

We have already been clear about the calibre of the people in this room – and I am equally confident about your ability to spread the word and bring additional talent on board.

And the scope of silk’s tangible and intangible heritage is so great that narrowing down the options for sites is more likely to be a challenge than broadening them out.

The City of Venice illustrates the point in the thinking that it has already developed.

The commercial and religious exchanges that took place along the original silk road – particularly on Marco Polo’s travels – will be important.

But so too will be the development of the textile industry; silkworm breeding and its consequences; the use of silk in art, fashion and design; and research and development in silk production.

These topics span centuries of technological, industrial and social revolution.

And signs of their impact on Europe’s cultural landscape and urban and rural structures can still be observed today.

Sites of potential interest include museums, historic spinning mills, modern-day fashion houses and so much more.

And the layers of history, the range of products, and the extraordinary cultural and economic wealth associated with this topic mean that it is relevant not just to the countries through which the original explorers and merchants travelled: from Azerbaijan and Russia in the East to Italy in the West.

Equally, countries that have a tradition of silk production and innovation elsewhere in Europe could play a part, whether that’s France and Spain or the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

As the sites establish themselves, people will come.

Europeans uncovering the past, sharing their experiences, and refining their identity through learning and intercultural dialogue.

But others too, not least to Europe’s growing numbers of Chinese tourists, to whom this topic will have a particular appeal.

Because sustainable culture will enable the development of sustainable tourism too.

And this positive feedback loop will be of benefit to all.

Ladies and gentlemen, there could be many winners from the creation of a European Silk Route.

The potential of your undertaking is breath-taking – and exhilarating.

And it comes at a good time.

Since 2010 Council of Europe member states have benefitted from the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes, established by our Committee of Ministers.

This commits its members to provide financial and political support for local, national, and cross-border initiatives.

From 13 founding members, we now have 32 – with Turkey and the Holy See joining this year.

So the value is understood, and the hunger is there.

Discussions about a Silk Route were first held between the Council of Europe and UNESCO in 1988.

And international organisations have looked at the possibility from outside Europe too.

So while this project is unique and explicitly European, other activity around this topic shows the broad understanding that you are pursuing a rich seam.

Like all Cultural Routes, this one must be driven from bottom up to reflect the genuine know-how and enthusiasm of those it touches most personally.

But in moving from theory to reality, the Council of Europe stands ready to support you in making it happen.

I hope that we will all look back on today as a pivotal moment in that quest.