The 10th anniversary of the European Landscape Convention

Celebration of the 10th anniversary of the European Landscape Convention, organised by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Government of Italy (19-20 October 2010, Palazzo Vecchio, Salone dei 500, Florence)

Presentation

The high-level official Ceremony, on 20 October, is designed to mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of the European Landscape Convention for signature by Council of Europe member states and to provide an opportunity for further signatures et ratifications.

The European Landscape Convention came into force on 1 March 2004 with the aim of promoting landscape protection, management and planning, as well as European co-operation in this area. The Convention is the first international treaty to be exclusively concerned with all aspects of European landscape. It applies to the entire territory of the Parties and covers natural, rural, urban and peri-urban areas. It deals with landscapes that might be considered outstanding as well as everyday or degraded landscapes. The Convention represents an important contribution to the implementation of the Council of Europe’s objectives, namely to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law and to seek common solutions to the main problems facing European society today. By taking into account the importance and value of landscape, the Council of Europe seeks to protect the quality of life and well-being of all Europeans.

As at 21 May 2010, 31 Council of Europe member states had ratified the Convention: Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. A further seven states have signed it: Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Malta, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland.

The preparatory day before the official Ceremony, on 19 October, the representatives of the Council of Europe member states and observers to the Council of Europe Conferences on the European Landscape Convention will be invited to speak on one of the four topics mentioned in the attached draft programme, presenting contributions.

Programme
Registration online
Hotels : A list of hotels is available on the website of the Italian Government Tourist Board ENIT. You are invited to proceed yourself to the reservation.