The Ministerial Conference entitled "The Social Value of Cultural Heritage in Europe”, organised within the Macedonian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is taking place on 24 and 25 September in Skopje.

Based on the integrated approach of the Chairmanship’s priorities, the Ministers of Culture of the member States of the Council of Europe will consider the best way to strengthen the principle of an integrated approach in supporting European pilot projects in the field of heritage. The so-called “Skopje Agenda” and some of the pilot projects to be considered at the Conference will promote South East Europe, as well as the Black Sea and South Caucasus, as regional observatories for international heritage strategies.

The Conference is aiming, through its tangible results, to contribute to the “soft security” of Europe, based on the respect for human and social rights, emphasising the great potential of heritage for promoting intercultural understanding and the improvement of the quality of life.

The Council of Europe’s “White paper on Intercultural dialogue” shall be promoted within the scope of the Conference and Mrs Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, Macedonian Minister of Culture, will sign the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro 2005).