IP/07/1365 Brussels, 20 September 2007 Culture: Commissioner Figel' to visit Serbia to launch the 2007 European Heritage Days The European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel', will visit Belgrade on 21 September for the official launch of the 2007 European Heritage Days, a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission. Its purpose is to celebrate the unity and diversity of Europe's shared cultural heritage. This year, the European Heritage Days are being launched in Serbia, since this country is currently holding the presidency of the Council of Europe. On the eve of this visit to Serbia, European Commissioner Ján Figel' said: ''Serbia's contribution to European culture will be highlighted with the festivities taking place in Belgrade. The European Heritage Days encourage the knowledge and promotion of our common cultural heritage, that unites us as Europeans. We must continue to uphold and promote our rich heritage in this ever-changing and globalizing world.'' Between August and November 2007, the 49 signatory countries to the European Cultural Convention are celebrating the European Heritage Days (EHD). This is a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission. For the past 15 years, the annual Days have provided opportunities to celebrate the unity and diversity of Europe's shared cultural heritage. The 2007 European Heritage Days are being launched in Belgrade at a ceremony which will take place on Friday 21 September at Kalemegdan - Belgrade Fortress. The Council of Europe officially instituted the "European Heritage Days" (EHD) in 1991, with the support of the European Union. Since then the Council has assigned responsibility for the practical aspects of organising the European Heritage Days to a co-ordination office appointed for a set period: the Stichting Open Monumentendag (the Netherlands) from 1991 to 1994, the King Baudouin Foundation (Belgium) from 1994 to 2000, the Centro Nacional de Cultura (Portugal) for 2001-2006 and now Europa Nostra. Since 1999 the EHD have been run as a joint initiative with the European Union. The support from the European Commission amounts to € 95 000 per year. The marking will be attended by Nenad Bogdanovic, the Mayor of Belgrade, Vojislav Brajovic, Minister of Culture of Serbia, Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ján Figel', Member of the European Commission responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, and HRH The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón, President of Europa Nostra, the Pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage (to be confirmed). Today over 40 partner organisations all over Europe form a network of EHD partners across the continent. In each country a national EHD exhibition will take place in the course of the autumn. For more information please see: http://www.ehd.coe.int/sdx/jep/index.xsp .