(English version) Question for written answer E-001161/20 to the Commission (NI), Chiara Gemma (NI), (NI), Rosa D'Amato (NI), (NI), (NI) (26 February 2020)

Subject: ‘New’ Via Francigena Cultural Route in the SOUTH, from Rome to Santa Maria di Leuca: measures, studies and monitoring

In 1987, the Council of Europe, through its Santiago de Compostela Declaration (1) , launched the cultural routes programme (2) , which puts into practice the Council of Europe’s values (human rights, cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and exchanges) and the certification of which is a guarantee of excellence.

In 2010, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Enlarged Partial Agreement (EPA) with a view to encouraging dialogue and cooperation between countries that were interested in developing cultural routes.

In October 2019, the European Association of the Via Francigena (EAVF) unanimously approved the ‘new’ Via Francigena in southern Italy, from Rome to Brindisi and right up to Santa Maria di Leuca, providing for a future historical alternative route in Basilicata (via Bradanica), ending in Matera. It is not actually an official route, but a ‘route in progress’, identified in 2012, on which local government departments are working.

On the basis of that information, can the Commission answer the following question:

Will it launch any studies and monitoring activities — and if so, can it provide details — in support of the New Via Francigena route in the SOUTH, also with a view to a future application and certification as a ‘Cultural Route of the Council of Europe’, on a par with the other walking routes amongst which it would be included?

Supporter (3)

Answer given by Mr Breton on behalf of the European Commission (27 May 2020)

The Commission does not provide direct support to cultural routes in view of their application and certification process as a ‘Cultural Route of the Council of Europe’.

The Commission has cooperated with the Council of Europe on the development and promotion of the established Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. In particular, Routes4EU, launched for 2017-2020 in the framework of the joint programme between the Council of Europe and the , increases the visibility of and cooperation within the four EU macro-regional strategies on several routes (including Via Francigena) (4).

Furthermore, EUR 19 million of national resources (5) have been devoted from the ‘Fondo Sviluppo e Coesione’ (FSC) for the development of the touristic potentials of the Via Francigena, in its northern part.

Moreover, the Commission supported the development and promotion of thematic tourism products, including physical or virtual cultural and touristic routes with transnational or European dimension (6). For example, the Roman Emperors and Danube Wine Route benefited from financial support to develop innovative tourism offer (project ‘SDITOROMAN’ (7) under the COSME (8) programme).

|(⋅1∙|) See link to the Santiago de Compostela Declaration 23 October 1987: https://rm.coe.int/16806f57d6, Declaration by the Committee of Ministers on the 30th anniversary of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (1987-2017): http://www.culture-routes.net/sites/default/files/files/Decl(27_09_2017)E.pdf, Resolution CM/Res(2013)66 confirming the establishment of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA): https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectId=09000016805c69ac, Resolution CM/Res(2013)67 revising the rules for the award of the ‘Cultural Route of the Council of Europe’ certification: https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectId=09000016805c69fe |(⋅2∙|) https://www.coe.int/en/web/cultural-routes/by-theme |(⋅3∙|) This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: (NI) |(⋅4∙|) https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/newsroom/news/2018/05/16-05-2018-routes4u-project-fostering-regional- development-through-cultural-routes |(⋅5∙|) According to the information sent by the Italian Ministry of Culture (MIBACT). |(⋅6∙|) https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/tourism/offer/cultural_en . |(⋅7∙|) https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/29223 . |(⋅8∙|) Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.