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to enhancing the value and raising the profile of Member States' heritage and that of the shared cultural heritage,

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to increasing knowledge and appreciation among citizens of their history and their shared yet diverse cultural heritage,

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to the economic attractiveness and sustainable development of the regions, in particular through cultural tourism,

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to artistic, cultural and historical education and, in so doing, to stepping up intercultural dialogue, especially among young people,

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to the sharing of experiences and exchange of best practices across Europe as regards the enhancement of its cultural heritage,

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more generally, to the promotion of democratic values and human rights that form the foundation of European integration and European citizenship.

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monuments, natural or urban sites, cultural landscapes and places of remembrance, as well as cultural goods and intangible heritage attached to a place, including contemporary heritage — hereafter referred to as ‘sites’ (5),

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if they bear witness, in particular by their cross-border or pan-European nature, to Europe's history, common values or cultural heritage, particularly to the building of Europe;

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promoting the European dimension of the site, i.e. its place and its role in European history, the cultural, artistic, scientific and technological movements, personalities and events linked to the site which have played a key role in the history and the building of Europe, etc.,

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enhancing the value of the site, for example by organising a range of educational, artistic, cultural and scientific activities (events, festivals, artist-in residence schemes, etc.),

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ensuring good management of the sites,

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ensuring the quality of the reception facilities: a policy of accessibility for the widest possible public and the promotion of multilingualism, etc.,

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according special attention to a young public, in particular by allowing it privileged access to the site,

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raising the profile and the attractiveness of the site on a European scale: appropriate signposting, the use of new technologies, etc.,

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taking part in the activities of networks of sites awarded the label, possibly in the framework of groups covering a particular European heritage theme or a common aspect of the history of Europe.

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a regular selection procedure, based on common, clear and transparent criteria, carried out initially at national and then at European level, based on an expert assessment of the applications and covering a reasonable and representative number of sites each time,

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flexible and streamline administrative arrangements, in compliance with the principle of subsidiarity,

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an implementation with due respect for the criteria laid out in Section 2 of these conclusions, that seeks synergies and complementarities with other initiatives such as the Unesco World Heritage List and the Council of Europe's ‘European Cultural Routes’, and adopts a concerted approach as regards notification of the sites awarded the label;