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12:00 – 14:30 Guided Vilnius city tour (for pre-registered participants)

RADISSON BLU HOTEL LIETUVA

15:00 – 16:00 Registration of the participants

Parallel meetings (by invitation only):

• Meeting of the Presidents of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
• Meeting Cultural Routes University network
• Meeting Cultural Routes common guidelines signposting
• Convocation of the Managers of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe

OFFICIAL OPENING 16:00 – 16:45 (Room α - EN/FR)

Alfredas JOMANTAS, Chair of the Governing Board, Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA), Republic of Lithuania and Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary, EPA on Cultural Routes, Council of Europe

• Šarūnas BIRUTIS, Minister of Culture, Republic of Lithuania
• Rasa NOREIKIENĖ, Vice-Minister of Economy, Republic of Lithuania
• Claudia LUCIANI, Director of Democratic Governance, Council of Europe
• Colette FLESCH, President, European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR)
• Carlo KRIEGER, Ambassador, Director of Legal and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

AWARD CEREMONY 16:45 – 17:15 (Room α - EN/FR)

Alfredas JOMANTAS, Chair of the Governing Board , EPA on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, Republic of Lithuania and Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary, EPA on Cultural Routes, Council of Europe

Welcoming to the new EPA Member States and Observers

Ceremony for the 2016 Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, “The Fortified Towns of the Greater Region”

Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Europe and UNWTO

Presentation of the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe recertified during the Evaluation cycle 2015-16

CULTURAL ROUTES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS 17:15 – 18:00 (Room α - EN/FR)

Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary, EPA on Cultural Routes, Council of Europe

• Silvia COSTA, Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, European Parliament (Videomessage) Marco ONIDA, Coordinator EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), Competence Centre Macro-Regions and European Territorial Cooperation, DG REGIO, European Commission
• Alla PERESSOLOVA, Head, Silk Road Programme, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
• José Luis MAESTRO, Member of the Executive Committee, Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism (NECSTouR)
• Muriel GRIMMEISEN, Co-Secretary to the Current Affairs Committee, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe

18:45 Departure from the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva to the Opening Reception venue

OPENING RECEPTION PIRKLIŲ KLUBAS (“Merchants Club”) 19:00 – 22:00

Short concert followed by a networking dinner accompanied with music

22:00 Departure to the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva

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RADISSON BLU HOTEL LIETUVA

08:30 – 09:00 Registration of participants (continued)

PLENARY SESSION 09:00 – 09:30 (Room α - EN/FR)

KEYNOTE SPEECH "Every centre is a crossing, every crossing a centre": Rein RAUD, Professor, Department of World Cultures, University of Helsinski

Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary, EPA on Cultural Routes, Council of Europe

PARALLEL WORKSHOPS

The day will be divided in three sessions of two parallel workshops, which will be followed by networking coffee breaks/lunch:

Workshop 1 “Expanding geographic coverage and partnerships” will explore the work carried out by Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and new cultural route projects, to extend to new countries, cities and regions, further expanding the membership of their networks and association as well as reinforcing relationships with stakeholders and partners. It will also provide the opportunity for representatives of EPA Member States to present their experience at national level with a view to encouraging the expansion of existing cultural routes in their countries. A particular focus will be devoted to providing examples from the Baltic Region, Eastern Europe, South-East Europe and the Euro-Mediterranean region. Challenges and opportunities linked to these trends will be explored.

Workshop 2 “Developing new themes and topics” will explore new themes and topics subject to future development. Furthermore, Workshop 2 will explore the use by the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe of new practices in communication (especially social media and new technologies), reaching new audiences and developing innovative branding and marketing tools. New practices in promoting cultural routes’ sustainability and accessibility will be explored. The role of tourism operators and European networks interested in cultural tourism will also be presented through concrete examples.

WORKSHOP 1 "Expanding geographic coverage and partnerships"  09:45 - 11:00 Room α - EN/FR

Moderator: Mike ROBINSON, Director, Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage - University of Birmingham

• Hanna JĘDRAS, Chief Expert, Department of International Relations, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Poland
• Gérard BEAUME, Coordinator, European Federation of the Saint James Way – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Laima ANDRIKIENĖ, Member of the European People's Party, European Parliament, Lithuania
• Faina KUKLIANSKY, President, Lithuanian Jewish community
• Olga YARILOVA, Director of the Department of Tourism and Regional Policy, Ministry of Culture, Russian Federation
• Jacques MATTEI, Director, European Federation of Napoleonic Cities – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Irina SIMONOVA, Saint-Petersburg State University of Culture
• Riitta KAIVOSOJA, Director-General Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
• Aira ANDRIKSONE, Association of Castles and Manors of Latvia

WORKSHOP 2 "Developing new themes and topics: Sustainable and cultural tourism" 09:45 - 11:00 Room β - EN/FR

Moderator: Birgitta RINGBECK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Germany

• Massimo TEDESCHI, President, European Association of the Via Francigena – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
•  Inger HARLEVI, Coordinator, The Hansa – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Michel LEGROS, President, In the footsteps of R.L Stevenson – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Cinzia DE MARZO, Coordinator, ETIS – European Tourism Indicators System
• Ed LANCASTER, Policy Officer – Cycling Tourism and Regional Policy, European Cyclists’ Federation
• José Luis MAESTRO, Member of the Executive Committee, NECSTouR
• Raitis SIJATS, President, European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN)
• Nick GREENFIELD, Head of Tour Operator Relations, European Tourism Association

11:00 – 11:45 Networking Coffee break (in thematic coffee areas)

WORKSHOP 1 "Expanding geographic coverage and partnerships" 11:45 - 13:00 Room α - EN/FR

Moderator: Wided MAJDOUB, Professor, Faculty of Economical and Political Sciences, University of Sousse, Tunisia

• George KALAMANTIS, Head of the Directorate of International Relations and European Union, Ministry of Culture and Sports, Hellenic Republic
• Françoise TONDRE, Vice-chair Scientific Committee, Olive Tree Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Giuliana DE FRANCESCO, Head of Unit, European multilateral relations, Ministry for cultural heritage, cultural activities and tourism, Italy
• Sonia IFKO, Scientific Committee, ATRIUM – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Philippe Denis FEE, Project Manager within the DEDAC / SCPCI, General Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture and Media, France
• Antonio BARONE, Coordinator, Phoenicians Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Serge AKL, Director, Lebanese Tourism Office in Paris
• Elsi RIZVANOLLI, Coordinator, Abraham path
• Pilar BARRACA, Head of the Analysis Unit of the European Cultural Routes, Ministry of Culture, Spain
• Patrizia VEZZOSI, Coordinator, Da Vinci Route
• Benoît CORNU, President, Le Corbusier

WORKSHOP 2 "Developing new themes and topics: Medias and new technologies" 11:45 - 13:00 Room β - EN/FR

Moderator: Lorenzo CANTONI, Director, Institute for Communication Technologies - Università della Svizzera italiana (USI Lugano)

• Armand GENOUX, President, European Federation of Cluniac Sites – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Ramon MONTES, Coordinator, Prehistoric Rock Art Trails (CARP) – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Kathleen LAPIE, Senior Project Officer, Joint Programme Council of Europe - European Commission
• Christin PRANGE, Coordinator, TRANSROMANICA – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Jurgita VERBICKIENE, Associate Professor, Department of History, Vilnius University and Director, Centre for Studies of the Culture & History of East European Jews, Vilnius

13:00 – 14.30 Networking Lunch at the Radisson Blu Hotel

WORKSHOP 1 "Expanding geographic coverage and partnerships" 14:45 - 16:00 Room α - EN/FR

Moderator: Alessia MARIOTTI, Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Tourism, University of Bologna

• Emanuela PANKE, Coordinator, Iter Vitis – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Jana KŇAŽKOVÁ, State Counsellor, Division of International Cooperation, Ministry of Culture, Slovak Republic
• Caroline FISCHER, Coordinator, VIA REGIA – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Levan KHARATISHVILI, Deputy-Minister of Culture and Monument Protection, Georgia
• Karin ZIMMER, Head of Section for International Cultural Policy, Directorate of Arts and Culture, Austrian Federal Chancellery
• Anca PAVEL-NEDEA, President, National Authority for Tourism, Romania
• Elizabeta KANCESKA-MILEVSKA, Minister of Culture, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (tbc)
• Carlo ABBÀ, Head of Tourism of the Municipality of Monza, Longobards ways Accross Europe
• Martina IVANUS, Senior Expert Advisor – Conservator, Ministry of Culture, Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Croatia

WORKSHOP 2 "Developing new themes and topics: Audiences (accessibility, youth, seniors)" 14:45 - 16:00 Room β - EN/FR

Moderator: Eleonora BERTI, Project Coordinator, European Institute of Cultural Routes

• Paul SIMONS, President of the Scientific Committee, European Historical Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Caroline FISCHER, Coordinator, VIA REGIA - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Maurizio DAVOLIO, President, European Alliance of Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (EARTH)
• Manel SÁNCHEZ GARCIA, Director, European Youth Card Association
• Sofia GKIOUSOU, Public Policy, AirBnB
• Clément SIMONNEAU, Manager, H2H cooperative platform
• Pietro SCIDURLO, President, Free Wheels onlus

16:00 – 16:45 Networking Coffee break (in thematic coffee areas)

PLENARY SESSION 16:45 – 18:00 (Room α - EN/FR)

Conclusion of the workshops / Questions and answers session

Mike ROBINSON, Director, Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage - University of Birmingham and Eleonora BERTI, Project Coordinator, European Institute of Cultural Routes

Adoption of the Vilnius Roadmap

Alfredas JOMANTAS, Chair of the Governing Board, EPA on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, Republic of Lithuania and Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary, EPA on Cultural Routes , Council of Europe

Presentation of the 2017 Annual Advisory Forum (Italy) – 30th Anniversary of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe

Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary, EPA on Cultural Routes, Council of Europe and Giuliana DE FRANCESCO, Head of Unit, European multilateral relations, Ministry for cultural heritage, cultural activities and tourism, Italy

18:30 Departure by bus to the Closing Reception venue

CLOSING RECEPTION BELMONTAS 19:00 – 22:00

22:00 Departure by bus to the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva

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09:00 – 10:30 EPA Bureau meeting (Bureau members only)

10:00 – 12:30 Guided Vilnius city tour (for pre-registered participants)

SESSION 1

• Hanna JEDRAS, Chief Expert, Department of International Relations, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Poland
• Gérard BEAUME, Coordinator, European Federation of the Saint James Way – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Laima ANDRIKIENĖ, Member of the European People's Party, European Parliament, Lithuania
• Olga YARILOVA, Director of the Department of Tourism and Regional Policy, Ministry of Culture, Russian Federation
• Jacques MATTEI, Director, European Federation of Napoleonic Cities – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Irina SIMONOVA, Saint-Petersburg State University of Culture
• Riitta KAIVOSOJA, Director-General Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
• Aira ANDRIKSONE, Association of Castles and Manors of Latvia

SESSION 2

• George KALAMANTIS, Head of the Directorate of International Relations and European Union, Ministry of Culture and Sports, Hellenic Republic
• Françoise TONDRE, Vice-chair Scientific Committee, Olive Tree Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Giuliana DE FRANCESCO, Head of Unit, European multilateral relations, Ministry for cultural heritage, cultural activities and tourism, Italy
• Sonia IFKO, Scientific Committee, ATRIUM – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Philippe Denis FEE, Project Manager within the DEDAC / SCPCI, General Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture and Media, France
• Antonio BARONE, Coordinator, Phoenicians Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Elsi RIZVANOLLI, Coordinator, Abraham path
• Patrizia VEZZOSI, Coordinator, Da Vinci Route
• Benoît CORNU, President, Le Corbusier

SESSION 3

• Emanuela PANKE, Coordinator, Iter Vitis – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Jana KNAZKOVA, State Counsellor, Division of International Cooperation, Ministry of Culture, Slovak Republic
• Levan KHARATISHVILI, Deputy-Minister of Culture and Monument Protection, Georgia
• Karin ZIMMER, Head of Section for International Cultural Policy, Directorate of Arts and Culture, Austrian Federal Chancellery
• Anca PAVEL-NEDEA, President, National Authority for Tourism, Romania
• Carlo ABBA', Head of Tourism of the Municipality of Monza, Longobards ways Accross Europe
• Martina IVANUS, Senior Expert Advisor – Conservator, Ministry of Culture, Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Croatia

SESSION 1

• Massimo TEDESCHI, President, European Association of the Via Francigena – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Inger HARLEVI, Coordinator, The Hansa – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Michel LEGROS, President, In the footsteps of R.L Stevenson – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Cinzia DE MARZO, Coordinator, ETIS – European Tourism Indicators System
• Ed LANCASTER, Policy Officer – Cycling Tourism and Regional Policy, European Cyclists’ Federation
• José Luis MAESTRO, Member of the Executive Committee, NECSTouR
• Raitis SIJATS, President, European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN)
• Nick GREENFIELD, Head of Tour Operator Relations, European Tourism Association

SESSION 2

• Ramon MONTES, Coordinator, Prehistoric Rock Art Trails (CARP) – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Kathleen LAPIE, Senior Project Officer, Joint Programme Council of Europe - European Commission
• Christin PRANGE, Coordinator, TRANSROMANICA – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Jurgita VERBICKIENE, Associate Professor, Department of History, Vilnius University and Director, Centre for Studies of the Culture & History of East European Jews, Vilnius

SESSION 3

• Paul SIMONS, President of the Scientific Committee, European Historical Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Caroline FISCHER, Coordinator, Via Regia - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
• Maurizio DAVOLIO, President, European Alliance of Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (EARTH)
• Manel SANCHEZ GARCIA, Director, European Youth Card Association, Council of Europe
• Sofia GKIOUSOU, Public Pokicy, AirBnB
• Clément SIMONNEAU, Manager, H2H cooperative platform
• Pietro SCIDURLO, President, Free Wheels onlus
• Uwe KOCH, German Cultural Heritage Committee