Representatives of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe gathered in Yerevan on 23 September 2026, on the occasion of the 15th Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, to discuss recent developments within the Programme, future perspectives and shared priorities.
The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from Astghik Marabyan, EPA Representative of Armenia, representing the host country of the Forum. This was followed by an overview of the Programme by Rui Gomes, highlighting the certification of three new Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, the development of the Youth Group and the ongoing work of the Reflection Group on Representativeness. These initiatives all contribute to the shared objective of building a stronger Programme with stronger Routes.
A dedicated point of the agenda explored the role and future contribution of the Informal Contact Group on Cultural Routes (ICG) within the Programme. Discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening dialogue between the ICG, the Cultural Routes and the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA), fostering closer exchanges across the different pillars of the Programme. The importance of cooperation with universities and other European initiatives was also addressed. In this context, the ongoing CURV Erasmus+ project, involving several Cultural Routes, was presented as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and create greater synergies.
The meeting also addressed Ukraine’s involvement in the Programme, including the study on the consequences of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression on Cultural Routes in Ukraine, initiatives supporting Ukrainian members, and the seminar organised by Norway for Ukrainian members of the Cultural Routes.
Looking ahead, a key focus was the 40th anniversary of the Cultural Routes Programme in 2027. Representatives exchanged ideas for activities and initiatives at European, national and local levels, including a shared calendar, communication campaigns, social media and video initiatives, educational activities and events organised by the Routes themselves. The anniversary will provide an important opportunity to increase the visibility of the Programme and highlight its contribution to cultural heritage and cooperation across Europe.
Participants also had the opportunity to hear from Sergei Bazarya from the European Heritage Days, who presented the available grant opportunities and the annual themes for 2026 and 2027, highlighting opportunities for Cultural Routes to engage with the initiative.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to reflect on the 2026 Training Academy, sharing best practices and feedback to further strengthen future editions. Participants were also introduced to the concept note of the 2027 Training Academy, which will place a strong emphasis on capacity building and peer learning.
The meeting concluded with a sharing on ongoing inter-Routes cooperation projects, reaffirming the importance of collaboration, communication and the sharing of experiences across the Cultural Routes network.
