The Plenary of the European Parliament voted on 16 December in favour of introducing a European Heritage Label for monuments, archaeological sites and cultural or natural places which have played a significant role in history, culture and European integration. This vote supports Commission's proposal to relaunch this European initiative to which can voluntarily be adopted by any EU country.

With 497 votes in favour, 18 against and 41 abstentions, the European Parliament adopted in Plenary session the report with the agreement reached within the Culture and Education Committee in relation to the European Heritage Label. According to that report, the label may also be awarded to places of remembrance, to intangible heritage associated with a place and even to contemporary heritage.

The objective of this initiative is to raise awareness among European citizenship in general and young people in particular, about their common cultural heritage and to strengthen their sense of European identity. It also seeks to promote the sites as tourist destinations, while limiting the negative impacts which may affect their environment.

The new EU programme would supersede an intergovernmental heritage scheme dating from 2006 which has no European-level supervision. Parliament voted not to integrate in the new programme the 67 sites that already have a label under the existing scheme. It also provides initially to include only EU Member States, although there is the possibility in the future to extend it to third countries.

Under a Parliament amendment, each Member State would pre-select up to two sites every two years, instead of annually as proposed by the Commission. One site per country would then be chosen by the Commission, with the help of a geographically balanced panel of 13 independent experts nominated by Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions.

After receiving the favourable vote of Parliament's plenary, the proposal must then receive the approval of the Council of ministers.