The Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) held its annual meeting on 5-7 May 2026 in Luxembourg. The Board, consisting of representatives of 43 member states, serves also as the authoritative body responsible for granting the "Cultural Route of the Council of Europe" certification.
The annual meeting is an opportunity to discuss the current state of the Cultural Routes programme as well as addressing ongoing elements pertaining to the 2026 programme of activities, including the 15th Advisory Forum to be held in September 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.
During the meeting, Rui GOMES, EPA Executive Secretary, and Alfred KOCHARYAN, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining their respective commitments and expectations for organising the upcoming Yerevan Advisory Forum.
The Board discussed the situation of cultural routes in Ukraine and exchanged ways to support them. Independent expert Olga MININCHUK presented a study commissioned by the Council of Europe on the impact of the armed aggression by the Russian Federation on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Ukraine. The Board praised the resilience and commitment of the Cultural Routes in Ukraine and noted and commended the effort of Cultural Routes for their solidarity and support to their partners and members in Ukraine. The number of routes in Ukraine grew from 3 in 2021 to 13 at present. Ukraine is a member of the EPA since 2021.
The Governing Board welcomed the EPA’s newest member, Ireland, whose delegates John KNIGHTLY and Anne Maria POWER, representing the National Monuments Services and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, attended the meeting for the first time this year. Currently, four certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe cross Ireland.
The Board further reviewed the 2025-2026 certification cycle, which included eight regular evaluations and six new candidate routes. Three new routes, the Singing Heritage Route, the European Pagainini Route and Via Querinissima have received the "Cultural Route of the Council of Europe" certification.
Ahead of the 40th anniversary of the programme, the Governing Board welcomed and supported the proposals of Spain to host the 2027 Advisory Forum in Santiago de Compostela, hence recognising the pioneering role of the Santiago de Compostela Declaration of 1987 in the creation of the programme.
