International cooperation for World Heritage in Europe and beyond Meeting on the Reflection Year on World Heritage Periodic Reporting UNESCO Headquarters, 24 January 2007 International cooperation for World Heritage in Europe and beyond By Dr. Mechtild Rössler + Europe team, UNESCO World Heritage Centre

International Assistance and Extrabudgetary Funding: International cooperation for World Heritage in Europe and other countries International Assistance and Extrabudgetary Funding: - Western European countries are considerably contributing to the Fund as well as to extrabudgetary resources. obligatory and voluntary contributions to the World Heritage Fund; providing support through international experts to conservation projects for World Heritage properties located in other countries. - types of assistance provided : preparatory assistance for nominations, the preparation of Tentative Lists, conservation projects, international meetings and seminars. - With the enlargement of the European Union, access to the World Heritage Fund comes to a close for new European Union members - Major World Heritage Cooperation Projects in the European Region by the UNESCO Field Offices. (e.g. The UNESCO Moscow Office for EE, UNESCO Venice Office for SEE) with contibutions by European Countries

International cooperation for World Heritage in Europe and other countries Bi- and Multilateral Cooperation: - Through the UNESCO Associate Experts’ Scheme, or staff support to the World Heritage Centre including secondments - In the framework of agreements with UNESCO: (e.g. France and Belgium) to help support and develop conservation and management of heritage; (Spain, the Netherlands, United Kingdom) Funds-in-Trust agreements offering support to the implementation of the Convention: e.g. promotion of the Global Strategy and improving site management and supporting conservation efforts. - Development agencies in many European countries (e.g. Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Spain and Sweden) have made contributions to World Heritage conservation in other regions of the world (considerable Bi-Lateral projects). European Heritage Networks and European Cooperation : - The European Union and the Council of Europe have launched a series of initiatives and programmes to protect and enhance heritage preservation. In a wider sense World Heritage properties have benefited from these programmes.

International cooperation in the framework of the Periodic Reports in Europe Berlin Appeal Request for increased cooperation, especially between UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the European Union/European Commission

Regional and sub regional cooperation: framework of the Periodic Reporting in Europe gave new impetus Visegrád, Hongrie Copenhague, Danemark Nicosie, Chypre (mai 2003) Berlin, Allemagne (novembre 2005)

Follow-up to Periodic Reporting (30 COM 11A.1) Regional and sub regional cooperation in the framework of the Periodic Reports in Europe Follow-up to Periodic Reporting (30 COM 11A.1) Western Europe (Paris, France 23-24 October 2006) South-Eastern Europe (Theassaloniki, Greece, 10-11 November 2006) Mediteranean Europe (Madrid, Spain, 19-20 February 2007) Forthcoming: Western Europe: Austria May 2007 Eastern Europe: Poland September 2007 Nordic Counties: to be defined

Differences in Definition: South Eastern Europe (UNESCO-WHC) Regional and sub regional cooperation in the framework of the Periodic Reports in Europe Specific Issues: Ever changing political landscape in Europe (new countries, e.g. Montenegro) Differences in Definition: South Eastern Europe (UNESCO-WHC) Conclusion: Nordic-Baltic: in principle agreed to Western Europe: definition not clear and subgroups emerged Eastern Europe: issues related to the on-going EU enlargement process South Eastern Europe vs Mediterranean? Cross regional: Arab Region + Europe