On 30 January, the Council of the European Union adopted the new priorities that will guide the cooperation between the EU and the Council of Europe in the next two years.   

The EU strives to strengthen the role of the Council of Europe as the reference International Organisation for promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Regarding cultural rights, the EU and the Council of Europe will promote a broader access to cultural and artistic activities. Among its various considerations, the text specifically acknowledges the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and the great potential of the Programme to promote the values of the European Union (paragraph 47):  

“The EU and its Member States acknowledge the role of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe for the promotion of European identity and citizenship through knowledge and awareness of Europe’s common heritage, and the development of cultural links and dialogue within Europe as well as with other countries and regions. They will continue to promote the potential of the CoE Cultural Routes for cultural cooperation, sustainable territorial development, social cohesion and European unity.”  

In November 2022, a meeting between the European Heritage Label initiative of the DG.EAC, the Directorate-General of the European Commission responsible for EU policy on education, youth, sport and culture, and the Secretariat of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe took place at the European Commission in Brussels  to reflect on synergies between both programmes and encourage future cooperation. 

The European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR), located at the historic Neumünster Abbey in Luxembourg, functions as technical agency in support of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA). The EPA liaises with various International Organisations to support the development of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and to protect the European cultural heritage, such as the EU, UNESCO, OECD, UNWTO, OEI, BSEC. The EU has Observatory Status with the EPA and as such participates in the meetings of the EPA Governing Board. The next EPA Governing Board meeting takes place in Luxembourg on 10-11 May 2023.