Decision 43 COM 7B.81

Ancient City of Nessebar (Bulgaria) (C 217)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7B.43, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Takes note of progress of the State Party in implementing previous Committee decisions and mission recommendations, but notes with concern that steps undertaken are insufficient and that some urgent matters are yet to be addressed;
4. Notes with great concern that the 2018 Reactive Monitoring mission found that the attributes of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property are deteriorated;
5. Also notes with great concern that actions taken to date are not sufficient to reverse the current negative trend and to remove the substantial threats to the OUV of the property;
6. Urges the State Party to devise a strategy for the future of Nessebar, based on sustainable, compatible and equitable development of the town, centred on its OUV;
7. Strongly requests the State Party to:
   1. Establish as a matter of high priority the proposed high-level inter-ministerial committee, supported by a working group and by all relevant institutions, tasked with the development of an OUV-based shared vision for Nessebar, which orients all present and future decisions about the property’s enhancement and development, and will be pivotal for all current and future plans and projects,
   2. Finalize, adopt and implement the Conservation Management Plan which incorporates an updated Sustainable Tourism Management Plan, Detailed Development Plan and General Development Master Plan, including guidelines for urban design, based on the OUV of the property, as well as continue enforcing the existing protection regimes,
   3. Further develop the overall sustainable mobility programme to ensure the smooth circulation of residents, visitors and goods within the property, and between the mainland and the property,
   4. Continue to allocate financial and human resources required for effective implementation of the updated Conservation Management Plan and updated General Development Master Plan,
   5. Continue to implement the recommendations of the 2018 mission as well as all previous mission recommendations that are yet to be addressed;
8. Also urges the State Party to continue to undertake research in anticipation of a future minor boundary modification request in accordance with Paragraphs 163 and 164 of the Operational Guidelines to include all underwater archaeological remains of the ancient town;
9. Strongly recommend the State Party to invite an ICOMOS Advisory mission to the property to provide advice in relation to:
   1. The further development of the sustainable tourism plan for the property,
   2. The conservation of the property as a living urban landscape;
10. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2021, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property, and submit to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, the Conservation Management Plan, Detailed Development Plan and General Development Master Plan for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session in 2021 with a view to considering, in the absence of substantial progress, the possible inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.