European Culture Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has suggested that historic sites across Europe that ‘symbolise European integration, ideals and history’ should be identified with The European Heritage Label as an EU-wide initiative.
This proposal builds on a 2006 intergovernmental project involving 17 member states plus Switzerland (the UK is not yet involved), where 64 sites across the 18 countries have received the label after being nominated by the governments of the participating nations. Under the revamped scheme, member states would be asked to nominate up to two sites per year to receive the label. A panel of independent experts would then assess the nominations before designating a maximum of one site per country, on an annual basis.
The Commission said its European Heritage Label would not replicate initiatives such as the UNESCO World Heritage scheme, because the title would only be bestowed upon sites that have played ‘a key role in the history of the European Union’.
The new plans will be submitted for adoption to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, which represents EU member states, and if approved could come into effect as early as end of 2011.
