The Bureau of the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) held its annual meeting on 1-2 March 2023 in Luxembourg.

 The meeting was opened by Mr. Julien VUILLEMIER, Chair of the EPA Governing Board, Mr. Matjaz GRUDEN, Director of Democratic Participation of the Council of Europe and by Ambassador Jean-Claude KUGENER, President of the European Institute of Cultural Routes (Luxembourg). Mrs Margarita LIOULIA (Greece), the EPA Vice-Chair, Mrs. Urszula ŚLĄZAK (Poland), Mrs Baiba MURNIECE (Latvia) and Mrs Meltem ÖNHON (Turkey) took part in the meeting. 

 The Bureau discussed the 2022-2023 certification cycle that evaluates 14 Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe under regular evaluation, 2 exceptional evaluations, as well as  8 new candidates for certification. The Bureau prepares the EPA Governing Board meeting to take place on 10-11 May 2023 in Luxembourg. 

 New candidate routes include:  

• European Network of Saint Michael's Sites and Ways 
• Iter Romanum - Heritage & Cities 
• Mary's Route 
• Pyrenees Freedom Routes 
• Romea Strata 
• Saint Francis' Ways 
• Singing Heritage Route 
• Transhumance Trails and Rural Roads 

The meeting was also the opportunity to discuss the preparation of the 12th Annual Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes to take place in Łódź, Poland on 20-22 September 2023. 

The Governing Board is responsible for the general implementation of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme and for the award the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe certification in accordance with Resolution CM/Res(2013)67. The EPA is currently composed of 37 member States.