ENLARGED PARTIAL AGREEMENT ON CULTURAL ROUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE (EPA)
 
The Cultural Routes programme was launched by the Council of Europe in 1987. Its objective was to demonstrate, by means of a journey through space and time, how the heritage of the different countries and cultures of Europe contributes to a shared cultural heritage.
 
The Cultural Routes certified by the Council of Europe put into practice the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe: human rights, cultural democracy, cultural diversity and identity, dialogue, mutual exchange and enrichment across boundaries and centuries.
 
In  December  2010,  the  Committee  of  Ministers  of  the  Council  of  Europe  adopted Resolution CM/Res(2010)53 established, for an initial period of three years, an Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA), which has been confirmed on 2013 by  Resolution CM/Res(2013)66 to enable closer co-operation between states particularly interested in the development of Cultural Routes.
 
  Cultural Routes by country
  Accessions or other Participations

KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
 
The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes seeks to reinforce the potential of Cultural Routes for cultural co-operation, sustainable territorial development and social cohesion, with a particular focus on themes of symbolic importance for European unity, history, culture and values and the discovery of less well-known destinations. It helps to strengthen the democratic dimension of cultural exchange and tourism through the involvement of grassroots networks and associations, local and regional authorities, universities and professional organisations. It contributes to the preservation of a diverse heritage through theme-based and alternative tourist itineraries and cultural projects.
 
OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK
 
The Governing Board of EPA awards the  certification "Cultural Route of  the  Council of Europe" and carries out regular evaluation of certified routes in conformity with Committee of Ministers Resolution CM/Res(2013)67 which establishes the rules the rules for the award of the "Cultural Route of the Council of Europe" certification. Routes requesting the certification should:
 

• focus on a theme representative of European values and common to at least 3 Council of Europe Members States;
• follow a historical route or (in the case of cultural tourism) a newly created route;
• give rise to long-term multilateral co-operation projects in priority areas (scientific research; heritage conservation and enhancement; cultural and educational exchanges among young Europeans; contemporary cultural and artistic practices; cultural tourism and sustainable development);
• be managed by one or more independent, organised networks (in the form of an association or a federation of associations).

A technical body and resource centre, the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR), was set up in 1998 in partnership with the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg for operational purposes and is since 2011 the seat of the EPA. The role of the EICR is to oversee the 3-year evaluation cycle of certified Cultural Routes, examine applications from new projects, monitor activities in the field, co-ordinate the work of partner organisations. The EICR coordinates a network of Universities and houses the
documentary resources of the programme as well as a library with books on Cultural Routes and related subjects of interest.
 
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