Europe and North America

Activities

• Follow-up of the First Cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in Europe and North America (2006-2011)
• Periodic Reporting in Europe and North America: First Cycle

Events

• Meeting of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe on the Implementation of the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting Exercise Nov 14, 2012 - Nov 16, 2012
• Periodic Reporting meeting for Western, Nordic-Baltic and Mediterranean Europe Sep 24, 2012 - Sep 26, 2012
• Side event on the 2nd Cycle of the Europe and North America Periodic Reporting Exercise Jul 3, 2012 - Jul 3, 2012
• Side event on the Capacity-Building Strategy Initiative for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe Region Jun 29, 2012 - Jun 29, 2012
• Workshop on management for World Heritage site managers in South-Eastern Europe in the framework of the preparation of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting for Europe and North America May 12, 2012 - May 15, 2012

See Also

• Periodic Reporting
• Questionnaires 2008-2015

Decisions

• 36COM 10B Progress Report on the follow-up of the First Cycle and preparation of the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe and North America

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1.   Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/10B,

  2.   Recalling Decisions 30 COM 11A.1, 30 COM 11A.2, 31 COM 11A.1, 31 COM 11A.2, 32 COM 11D, 34 COM 10B.3 and 35 COM 10C.2 adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006), 31st (Christchurch, 2007), 32nd (Quebec City, 2008), 34th (Brasilia, 2010) and 35th (UNESCO, 2011) sessions, respectively,

  3.   Takes note of the follow-up activities to the first cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in the region of Europe and North America and the activities in preparation of the launching of its second cycle;

  4.   Thanks the Maltese authorities for having hosted the preparatory meeting for Mediterranean Europe in Valetta from 21 to 24 September 2011 and the Icelandic authorities for having hosted the preparatory meeting for Nordic, Baltic and Western Europe in Reykjavik from 18 to 21 October 2011;

  5.   Also thanks the Nordic World Heritage Foundation for its collaboration in the preparation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise, including preparation of meetings as well as relevant tools;

  6.   Expresses its sincere appreciation to the German authorities for having proposed to host a meeting for Nordic, Baltic, Western and Mediterranean Europe in Berlin from 19 to 20 September 2012, the Georgian authorities for having proposed to host a meeting for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in autumn 2012, the Italian authorities for having proposed to host a meeting for Mediterranean Europe in Florence in September 2013 and the authorities of Luxembourg for having proposed to host a meeting for Nordic, Baltic and Western Europe in 2013/2014;

  7.   Welcomes the initiative of the World Heritage Centre and ICCROM to address the priority needs in training and capacity-building for the preservation of World Heritage properties in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, by an integrated and targeted strategy in the context of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting;

  8.   Commends the States Parties which have submitted draft retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value before the official launching of the Periodic Reporting exercise as requested in Decision 35 COM 10C.2 and urges the States Parties to submit the pending retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value as soon as possible;

  9.   Reiterates its gratitude to the States Parties of Andorra, Monaco, Portugal and the Netherlands who have made financial contributions to the implementation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in Europe and North America, acknowledges with thanks the pledge by the Flemish Government to financially support the exercise and encourages further support and collaboration for the future;

  10. Also takes note of the Road Map developed at the Reykjavik meeting in 2011 and requests the States Parties to make an effort towards a coordinated approach for its implementation;

  11. Decides to launch the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting in the Europe and North America region and also reiterates that it will take place on a two-year basis (North America, Western, Nordic and Baltic Europe sub-regions, for the first year, and Mediterranean, Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, for the second year) provided that a report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for North America will be presented at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2014, and an overall report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe will be presented at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2015;

  12.  Also welcomes the creation of the web platform for the follow-up and implementation of the Periodic Reporting exercise and also encourages the States Parties, the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and other concerned partners to explore all the opportunities that this tool can provide for the joint implementation of the exercise;

  13.   Also requests the World Heritage Centre to report back to the World Heritage Committee on progress achieved in the Periodic Reporting exercise at its 37th session in 2013.

  See more about Decision 36COM 10B

• 35COM 10C.2 Progress Report on Periodic Reporting in the Europe and North America region

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-11/35.COM/10C,

  2. RecallingDecisions 30 COM 11A.1, 30 COM 11A.2, 31 COM 11A.1, 31 COM 11A.2, 32 COM 11D and 34 COM 10B.3 adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006), 31st (Christchurch, 2007), 32nd (Quebec City, 2008) and 34th (Brasilia, 2010) sessions respectively,

  3. Takes note of the follow-up activities to the first cycle of Periodic Reporting exercise in the region of Europe and North America and the results of the sub-regional meetings for Nordic, Western and Mediterranean Europe;

  4. Thanks the Israeli authorities for having organized the follow-up meeting for Mediterranean Europe in 2010 in Acre, the Estonian authorities for having hosted the follow-up meeting for Nordic and Baltic Europe in 2010 in Tallinn with the support of the Nordic World Heritage Foundation, the Dutch authorities for having hosted the follow-up meeting for Western Europe in 2010 in Amersfoort, the Czech authorities for having hosted a meeting for Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe in 2011 in Prague, and the authorities of Malta for having proposed to host a meeting in Malta in September 2011 for the Mediterranean Europe sub-region, currently under preparation;

  5. Welcomes the proposal of Italy to host a preparatory meeting for the Mediterranean Europe sub-region in 2012 in Florence, and takes note of the interest of the authorities of Azerbaijan, Germany and Greece to host preparatory meetings in 2012, for their respective sub-regions, namely Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Mediterranean Europe sub-regions, to be confirmed, as well as of the intention of the State Parties in North America to organize preparatory Periodic Reporting meetings and/or teleconferences with the site managers in 2011 and 2012;

  6. Thanks the Netherlands and Monaco for their financial contributions for the preparation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise and calls upon the States Parties and the international community to support financially the Periodic Reporting exercise in the Europe and North America region, considering the scope of work to be done, including capacity-building activities and evaluation of Statements of Outstanding Universal Value;

  7. Invites the States Parties to prepare, in coordination with the World Heritage Centre, the launch of the second cycle of Periodic Reporting exercise for the Europe and North America region at the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee and decides that it will take place on a two year basis (North America, Western, Nordic and Baltic Europe sub-regions, for the first year, and Mediterranean, Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, for the second year) provided that a report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for North America will be presented at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2014, and a report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2015;

  8. Reiterates its request that the States Parties should submit the retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2012, in order to ensure the preparation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise;

  9. Also requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a progress report on the follow-up of the first cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe and North America and on the preparations for the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe and North America, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012.

  See more about Decision 35COM 10C.2

• 34COM 10B.3 Progress Report on Periodic Reporting in Europe and North America

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/10B,

  2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 11A.1, 30 COM 11A.2, 31 COM 11A.1, 31 COM 11 A.2 and 32 COM 11D adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006), 31st (Christchurch, 2007) and 32nd (Quebec City, 2008) sessions respectively,

  3. Takes note of the follow-up activities to the first cycle of Periodic Reporting exercise in Europe and North America and the results of the sub-regional meetings for Nordic, Western and Mediterranean Europe;

  4. Thanks the Irish authorities for having hosted the follow-up meeting for the Western European region in 2009 in Dublin, the Portuguese authorities for having organized the follow-up meeting for the Mediterranean sub-region in 2009 in Tomar, the Swedish authorities for having hosted the follow-up meeting for Nordic and Baltic Europe in Stockholm in 2009, as well as the Israeli authorities for having organized the follow-up meeting for the Mediterranean sub-region in 2010,

  5. Welcomes the offer of the Czech authorities to host a meeting for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in 2011; the offer of the Estonian authorities to host a meeting for the Nordic-Baltic region in October 2010; the offer of the Maltese authorities to host a meeting for the Mediterranean region in 2011; and the offer of the authorities of the Netherlands to host a meeting for the Western European Region in December 2010; and encourages cooperation and sharing of knowledge between the European sub-regions.

  6. Requests the States Parties, to submit the required retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2012, in order to ensure the preparation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting; and notes with concern the workload connected with this request in relation to the resources of the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for processing the Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value as it is crucial for the States Parties to have them approved on time.

  7. Also requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a progress report on the follow-up to the European Periodic Report exercise and on the preparations for the next cycle for Europe and North America for examination at its 35th session in 2011.

  See more about Decision 34COM 10B.3

• 32COM 11C Follow up on the Periodic Report for Europe

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/11C,

  2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 11A.1, 30 COM 11A.2, 31 COM 11A.1 and 31 COM 11.A.2 adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006) and 31st (Christchurch, 2007) sessions respectively,

  3. Takes note of the results of the subregional meetings on the follow-up to Periodic Reporting for "Central and Eastern Europe" (Wroclaw, Poland, September 2007) as well as for "Mediterranean and South Eastern Europe" (Corfu, Greece, April 2008), and further notes that a number of training initiatives were financed through extrabudgetary sources

  4. Encourages the European States Parties to continue to submit any changes to names, criteria, boundaries and draft statements of significance/Outstanding Universal Value as soon as possible;

  5. Recommends that States Parties, Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre continue their collaboration in addressing any outstanding issues, in particular with focused follow-up meetings and training exercises;

  6. Thanks the Greek authorities for having hosted the Mediterranean and South-Eastern European Meeting in Corfu, Greece, 18-19 April 2008, and the Spanish authorities for having organized the Iberian Meeting in Plasencia, Spain, 2-4 April 2008, and welcomes the offer of the Portuguese authorities to host a meeting for Mediterranean Europe in spring 2009;

  7. Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a progress report on the follow-up to the European Periodic Report and on the preparations for the next cycle for Europe and North America for examination by the Committee at its 34th session in 2010.

  See more about Decision 32COM 11C

• 31COM 11A.1 Follow-up on the Periodic Reporting for Europe

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/11A.1,

  2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 11A.1 and 30 COM 11A.2 adopted at its 30th session
  (Vilnius, 2006),

  3. Commends States Parties for updating the boundaries and statements of outstanding universal value and encourages the European States Parties to submit any changes to names, criteria, boundaries and statements of significance in a timely fashion and in accordance with deadlines outlined in the Operational Guidelines as a follow-up to the European Periodic Report, at the latest by 1 February 2008;

  4. Takes note of the results of the subregional meetings on the follow-up to Periodic
  Reporting for Western Europe, Mediterranean and South Eastern Europe and further
  notes training initiatives financed through extrabudgetary sources;

  
  5. Recommends that States Parties, the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre continue their collaboration in addressing any outstanding issues in particular with focused follow-up meetings and welcomes the initiative of the Austrian authorities for a second Western European meeting, the Finnish authorities for having hosted the
  Nordic and Baltic Europe meeting, both in May 2007, as well as the Polish authorities
  initiative to host a meeting for Eastern and Central Europe in September 2007 and
  Greece for Mediterranean Europe in March 2008;

  6. Requests States Parties to provide to the World Heritage Centre updated and detailed contact information on site managers in Europe in order to establish a reliable database;

  7. Further requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a
  progress report on the follow-up to the European Periodic Report for examination at its
  32nd session in 2008.

  See more about Decision 31COM 11A.1

• 31COM 11A.2 Follow-up on the Periodic Reporting for Europe

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/11A.2,

  2. Takes note of the clarification of property limits provided by the following States Parties in the European region in response to the Retrospective Inventory:

  • Belgium: La Grand-Place, Brussels;
  • Bulgaria: Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo; Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari;
  • Italy: Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci; Historic Centre of Florence; I Sassi di Matera; Historic Centre of Urbino;
  • Portugal: Historic Centre of Évora;
  • Slovenia: Škocjan Caves;
  • Spain: Altamira Cave; Mudejar Architecture of Aragon; Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville; La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia; San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries; University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares.

  3. Requests the State Parties in the Europe Region who have not yet answered the questions raised in 2005 in the framework of the Retrospective Inventory to provide all requested clarifications and documentation as soon as possible and by 1 December 2007 at the latest;

  4. Acknowledges that the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies will not be able to examine proposals for boundary modifications for properties located in the Europe Region whenever current boundaries are unclear. The same principle applies to sites located within other Regions;

  5. Thanks the States Parties concerned for their efforts to improve the credibility of the World Heritage List.

  See more about Decision 31COM 11A.2

• 31COM 11D.1 Periodic Reporting

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/11D.1,

  2. Recalling Decisions 25 COM VII.25-27 adopted at its 25th session (Helsinki, 2001), 7 EXT.COM 5 and 7 EXT.COM 5A.1 adopted at its 7th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2004), 29 COM 11.A adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005), 30 COM 11G adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);

  3. Recognizing the range of benefits for the World Heritage community of the new approach for Section II of the Periodic Reporting questionnaire proposed by the "Working Group on the simplification of the Periodic Reporting questionnaire and setting up of indicators" (the Working Group);

  4. Welcomes the new format for Section II as presented in Document WHC-07/31.COM/INF.11D.1;

  5. Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Working Group to develop a new format for Section I, incorporating the lessons learnt from the revision of the Section II questionnaire and to finalize both Sections I and II of the revised questionnaire and decides to allocate USD 75,000 from the World Heritage Fund for these activities;

  6. Requests the World Heritage Centre to develop a Web-based application of the revised questionnaire as found in WHC-07/31.COM/INF.11D.1 and decides to allocate USD 50,000 from the World Heritage Fund for this task;

  7. Recognizing the pivotal importance of Statements of Outstanding Universal Value in all World Heritage processes, urges States Parties, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to prepare all missing Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for properties in their territory before the launching of the second cycle of Periodic Reporting in their Region and decides to allocate USD 10,000 from the World Heritage Fund to the Advisory Bodies to participate in the revision of the Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for the Arab States Region;

  8. Requests the World Heritage Centre to ensure it has adequate capacity and resources to continue the Retrospective Inventory as the basis to prefill the questionnaire at the outset of the Second cycle of periodic reporting in each region;

  9. Acknowledges the importance and complexity of adopting a consistent approach for indicators for World Heritage properties and requests the World Heritage Centre to prepare a working document on this issue to be presented at its 32nd session in 2008;

  10. Invites States Parties wishing to participate in the Field Testing of the revised questionnaire to contact the World Heritage Centre before 30 September 2007.

  See more about Decision 31COM 11D.1

• 30COM 11A.1 Presentation of the Periodic Report of Sections I and II of Europe

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30COM/11A.1 and taking note of Document WHC-06/30COM/INF.11A,

  2. Recalling Decisions 25 COM VII.25-27 and 7 EXT COM 5A.2, adopted respectively at its 25th session (Helsinki, 2001) and 7th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2004),

  3. Expressing its sincere appreciation for the considerable efforts by all 48 States Parties in Europe in submitting the Periodic Reports for Section I in 2004 and Section II in 2005,

  4. Notes the successful use of an electronic tool, the development of an evaluation tool and the storage in a World Heritage Centre database of all information submitted by the States Parties;

  5. Thanks the German authorities for hosting a European meeting (Berlin, Germany, 8 - 9 November 2005) on the results of Periodic Reporting Section I and the finalization of Section II, as well as the development of an overall Strategic Action Plan and welcomes the "Berlin Appeal" to enhance cooperation and support by European States Parties and European Institutions on World Heritage;

  6. Welcomes with satisfaction the synthesis report of the European Region illustrating a growing co-operation among States Parties;

  7. Acknowledges and endorses the Action Plan of the European synthesis report on Section I and II and the sub-regional reports and requests the States Parties to make an effort towards a coordinated approach for its implementation;

  8. Requests States Parties to work with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to start implementing the Action Plan for the European Region;

  9. Further notes that preparations for the follow-up to the Periodic Reporting results, including name changes, boundary changes and statements of significance have started in some European States Parties, following the Circular Letter of 23 January 2006, and welcomes the meetings offered by the Greek authorities in November 2006, by the French authorities in October 2006 and by the Spanish authorities in January 2007, to ensure a coordinated and systematic approach of these follow-up activities;

  10. Notes the importance of management plans for the protection of World Heritage properties and that many European sites reviewed lack this tool, and requests States Parties to prepare management plans for those World Heritage properties that still do not have them;

  11. Recognizes the need to avoid the nomination of similar types of properties and encourages States Parties to cooperate in harmonizing their Tentative Lists by sharing information on the sites proposed;

  12. Strongly encourages the States Parties in Europe to continue the improved cooperation and requests all States Parties to submit any changes to names, criteria, boundaries and statements of significance in a timely fashion and in accordance with deadlines outlined in the Operational Guidelines;

  13. Notes also that such proposals (and the similar ones made in Periodic Reports for other Regions) have considerable resource and workload implications for the Committee, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies as well as for States Parties;

  14. Further requests that all European States Parties provide an official letter to the World Heritage Centre by 31 September 2006, indicating their agreement to make the electronic database available for data-sharing with the Council of Europe and other partners as well as on the World Heritage webpage for the general public;

  15. Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a progress report on the follow-up to the European Periodic Report including time tables, budgetary implications and priorities for examination at its 31st session in 2007.

  See more about Decision 30COM 11A.1

• 30COM 11B Follow-up to the Periodic Report for North America / Adoption of Statements of Significance

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30.COM/11B,

  2. RecallingDecisions 29 COM 11 A.4 and 29 COM 11 A.5 adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005),

  3. Noting proposals for changes to the nomination dossiers for some World Heritage properties in North America,

  4. Approves the Statements of significance for the World Heritage properties in North America as included in Annex I of Document WHC-06/30.COM/11B;

  5. Notes the changes to the names as indicated in Document WHC-06/30.COM/8B, and further notes the adjustments to natural heritage criteria concerning geological values, as indicated in Document WHC-06/30.COM/8D and decides to also change the name of Redwood National Park to Redwood National and State Parks;

  6. Encourages the State Party of Canada to put forward extensions to Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks and Wood Buffalo National Park, pursuant to Canada's Tentative List for World Heritage Sites (2004);

  7. Encourages Canada and the United States of America to submit any outstanding documentation related to World Heritage properties, as soon as possible;

  8. Recommends that Canada and the United States of America continue, in cooperation with other Committee members, States Parties, the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre to explore, as appropriate, the potential for developing guidelines for management plans and principles for evaluating visual impacts for activities in and adjacent to World Heritage properties;

  9. Encourages Canada and the United States of America to continue their strong collaboration and to consider how to enhance collaboration with the State Party of Mexico in matters of shared interest for natural and cultural heritage.

   

  See more about Decision 30COM 11B

• 29COM 11B Presentation of the Section I (2005) and Progress Report on the Preparation of Section II (2006) of the Periodic Report for Europe

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Decides, in view of the time constraints, to defer the presentation and the discussion of this item until its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006).

  See more about Decision 29COM 11B

• 27COM 6B Follow-up to Periodic Reporting in the Arab States and Africa ; Preparations in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Europe and North America

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Requests the World Heritage Centre to produce a publication within three months, if possible, to be funded from extrabudgetary funds, on the Arab States Periodic Report carried out in the year 2000 and information on the follow-up actions.  This publication is also to be made available through electronic or other appropriate means (CD-Rom and/or on the UNESCO World Heritage Centre's web site);

  2. Notes the progress made to date in the preparation for the Periodic Reporting in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Europe and North America.

  See more about Decision 27COM 6B

• 25COM VII.25 Progress Reports on Regional Periodic Reporting Strategies, Europe and North America Region

  Concerning the proposals for the Periodic Reporting Exercise for Europe (Section 4 of Document WHC-01/CONF.208/8), the Committee agreed both with the timing and the proposal to collaborate with the Council of Europe and its HEREIN project, a comparative databank on European cultural heritage policies. It furthermore noted the co-operation with the Nordic World Heritage Office/Foundation in the development of technical tools.

  See more about Decision 25COM VII.25

• 25COM VII.26 Progress Reports on Regional Periodic Reporting Strategies, Europe and North America Region

  The Committee also requested that all States Parties be included in this effort and to fully co-operate with the Advisory Bodies. A number of European States Parties took the floor to support the arrangements proposed, namely to cover Section I of the reports for all countries in 2005 and Section II in 2006. A question was raised as to whether the capacity in the Centre would be sufficient for the work to be carried out and the Director responded that assistance be provided by States Parties through the Associate Expert Scheme.

  See more about Decision 25COM VII.26

• 25COM VII.27 Progress Reports on Regional Periodic Reporting Strategies, Europe and North America Region

  The Delegate of Hungary pointed out that the year 2007 should be devoted to a stocktaking exercise and the development of conceptual guidelines for the second cycle. The Delegate of Greece informed the Committee that a Conference on the Safeguarding of Byzantine Heritage had been organized in May 2001 and that a database on the state of conservation of this type of heritage for the Mediterranean countries is being established. ICOMOS fully supported the link to the Council of Europe and the HEREIN project, as this is an open project which could be very beneficial to other regions. The thesaurus already exists in English, French and Spanish and the thematic and methodological approach could be expanded to cover the other reporting exercises as it includes heritage protection in general.

  See more about Decision 25COM VII.27