The European Heritage Label (EHL) action announced 13 new sites awarded the label for 2025, marking the highest number of recipients since 2014 and bringing the total to 80 sites across Europe.
This includes notable additions like Bulgaria's Provadia-Solnitsata prehistoric site, along with others in Austria, Croatia, France, Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Malta.
"These places are living classrooms for new generations. By preserving them, we ensure that Europe’s story continues to inspire, unite & guide us forward," said Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, on his LinkedIn page.
The European Commission launched a public consultation in 2025 to restructure the EHL scheme, aiming to modernise it, boost visibility, enhance transnational collaboration, and integrate sustainable tourism principles. The EHL Bureau, operational since March 2023, will wrap up in July 2026 after supporting networking and outreach for labelled sites.
New sites will be formally awarded at the 2026 EHL Ceremony on April 22 in Brussels, celebrating 15 years of the programme. A call for experts to join the EHL Panel for the 2027–2029 cycle was issued in late 2024, focusing on site evaluations and cultural tourism promotion.
The European Heritage Label action highlights heritage sites that have been crucial to European history and integration, helping people understand the Union’s values.
It focuses on the cultural and educational aspects of heritage, encouraging active participation and dialogue, especially with young people. EHL promotes a sense of belonging to Europe while respecting diverse national and local identities.
