TRANSROMANICA was officially recognized as a “Major European Cultural Route” by the Council of Europe in August 2007.

The title of “Major Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” is a sign of quality and shows that the route or network responds to all criteria set by the Council of Europe, who awards the title.

 

The title is used to show to the public that this route is part of a programme by the Council of Europe which makes visible fundamental values defended by the organisation, particularly preserving European cultural diversity, encouraging intercultural dialogue and easing reconciliation.

 

The title also signalizes that the route or network enhances the consciousness of common European citizenship and bases on sharing universal values.

 

A formal operational framework, in terms of rules, set by the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) ensures qualitative and quantitative assessment of implementation, training of actors and a coherent communication. Even though, the EICR is not involved in governance, it makes sure that each governance chain functions as well as possible, coordinating communal actions, advising, forming and bringing together current and future partnerships to allow cultural routes crossings and to create synergies. The routes should be centred on a theme and have to fulfil a series of criteria. The project initiators of a cultural route must form a network to improve co-operation and pool experiences. Only if the theme and the network are approved by the committee responsible for the Cultural Route Programme on proposal from the advisory committee, the certification “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” is awarded. An every three years report is to be submitted by the network to evaluate its activities in order to ascertain whether they continue to satisfy the criteria listed in the latest Resolution on the cultural routes of the Council of Europe from 2007. The certification “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” is a brand representing the basic values of the Council of Europe; the usage of this title is reserved for awarded networks.

 

The following criteria have to be fulfilled:

a) Co-operation in research and development

b) Enhancement of memory, history and European heritage

c) Cultural and educational exchanges for young Europeans

d) Contemporary cultural and artistic practice

e) Cultural tourism and sustainable cultural development