The evolution in the concept of integrated conservation of Heritage from the Granada Convention (25 years ago) to the Faro Convention (five years ago) has led to connecting Heritage to its social and economic values and placing it at the centre of development strategies. The “Ljubljana Declaration on cultural heritage: from reconciliation to sustainable socio-economic development”, adopted during the Ministerial Conference on 6-7 November 2009, marks a political momentum towards the implementation of these principles. Preservation of the common European heritage is definitely no longer considered an isolated issue, but as an essential tool for attaining concrete global objectives with respect to reconciliation and dialogue between cultures, social inclusion, protection of the environment, local development, and economic development. These objectives are in line with the main priorities on which the Macedonian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is focusing:

• Achievement of greater social cohesion through respect of social rights;
• Achievement of an inclusive Europe, based on the integration of minorities into society;
• Promotion of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue as a valuable instrument for mutual understanding;
• Active participation of all stakeholders in the improvement of citizens’ well-being and quality of life, and especially young people, through democratic processes.

Strategic Perspectives

The Skopje Ministerial Conference will use the integrated approach of the Macedonian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe priorities towards a strategic perspective committing all participants. Ministers of Culture of the Council of Europe member states, and the representatives of international and non-governmental organisations are invited to join and support the “Skopje Agenda”.

This three-year agenda will contribute to the implementation of the Council of Europe’s conventions, and in particular the Faro Convention when it comes into force, through specific but converging activities developing:

1. Targeted regional projects, in line with the Macedonian Chairmanship’s objectives and European priorities, namely “Ljubljana Process II: Rehabilitating our Common Heritage”, directly inspired by the “Integrated Rehabilitation Projects Plan/Survey of the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage” (2003-2010, Joint Programme between the Council of Europe and the European Union), and the “Local Development Pilot Projects”, both in South-East Europe, and “Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage in Historic Towns” pilot project in the “Kyiv Initiative Countries (Joint Programme between the Council of Europe and the European Union)”;
2. “Case Study Modules”, developed through the HEREIN information system, connecting countries’ focal points with international experts on targeted themes related to the follow-up of the Council of Europe Heritage Conventions;
3. “Regional Projects Advisory Group” to assess the impact of the projects and to formulate recommendations on best practices, standards and procedures.

A “Drafting Task Force” will be set up to collect results and to evaluate the impact of different activities. The Task Force will also draft a Council of Europe recommendation on the social values of heritage and the sustainable use of cultural territorial resources in European social and economic development strategies. The draft recommendation should be presented to the Steering Committee for Cultural Heritage and Landscape at its May 2013 plenary session, for its follow-up to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The “Skopje Agenda” takes advantage of the ongoing regional programmes carried out in South-East Europe and the countries of the Kyiv Initiative in order to test and demonstrate how integrated projects, inspired by the objectives of the Faro Convention, can effectively:

• contribute to “soft-security” in Europe, based on respect of human rights and social rights;
• contribute to the creation of democratic stability and processes of citizenship participation;
• foster the potential of heritage for improving quality of life;
  
• implement the pedagogical value of heritage as a factor of reconciliation and prevention of conflicts;
• offer a reflective framework to face social and ecological challenges of our changing societies.

However, the ultimate objective is to put this experience at the disposal of the other European member states to consider new heritage-led regeneration models of development to adopt common standards and references.