The European Commission proposed, on 9 March, a ‘European Heritage’ label. The EU-wide label aims at highlighting sites that “celebrate and symbolise European integration, ideals and history”. The decision establishing the label could come into effect in 2011 or 2012, after having been submitted by the Commission to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament for adoption.

The proposal follows the 2006 intergovernmental project involving 17 member states. According to the Commission, expanding the ‘European Heritage’ label as an EU initiative would give it greater credibility, visibility and prestige. To date, 64 sites have received the label under the existing scheme. Member states have selected the sites ranging French statesman Robert Schuman’s house to the Gdansk shipyards in Poland, birthplace of Solidarnosc. The 64 sites also include the Acropolis (Athens), the birthplaces of Rossini, Puccini and Verdi (Italy), Braga Cathedral (Portugal) and the Museum of Genocide Victims (1940-1941) in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Under the new scheme, member states would nominate up to two sites per year for the ‘European Heritage’ label. These nominations would be assessed by a panel composed of independent experts. A maximum of one site per year would then be chosen in each country. Participation in the scheme would be voluntary, stresses the Commission. Androulla Vassiliou, the commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, sees the main benefits of the proposed label as providing new opportunities to learn about Europe’s cultural heritage and democratic values; increasing awareness of European cultural tourism; clear and transparent criteria for participating member states; and ensuring that only the most relevant sites received the label.