The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7B.108, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Takes note of the French State Party's commitment to improve existing legislation to guarantee satisfactory legal protection and appropriate authorization procedures with regard to World Heritage status;
4. Also takes note of the detailed visual impact study provided by the State Party of France regarding the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, and that the present project covers, for the most part, the area of the old cloth market, coherent with the secular use of the immediate surroundings of the Béthune Belfry for commercial activities ;
5. Considers that the parking project does not have any direct visual impact on the inscribed property;
6. Encourages the State Party of France to:
a) confirm the strengthening of the legal protection and reinforce procedures for the authorization of work permits for World Heritage properties and their buffer zones;
b) supervise the strict implementation of the project for the covered market of the Béthune Belfry and its reversibility;
c) provide the World Heritage Centre with a detailed report on the archaeological situation of the underground area of the Belfry, by 1 February 2009.