Measuring the development of the European Heritage Label

Monitoring

An EHL Panel, made up of independent experts, regularly checks that labelled sites still meet the criteria for the award. Monitoring takes place every four years in cooperation with participating EU countries, following the timetable in the legal decision establishing a European Union action for the European Heritage Label.

2024 Monitoring Report – Key points

• 60 sites assessed: All continue to meet criteria due to strong local teams and partnerships.
• Best practices identified in:
  • cross-site collaboration
  • sustainability and digital innovation
  • youth education programmes
• Budapest Recommendations (Oct 2024):
  • more tailored support for small/remote sites
  • improved digital tools
  • stronger strategic alignment across the network

2020 Monitoring Report – Key points

• All sites meet criteria: 38 sites confirmed to meet EHL standards, thanks to activities promoting EU identity, especially among youth, and encouraging intercultural dialogue
• Growth in participation: From 4 sites in 2013 to 48 in 25 countries by 2020
• Collaboration opportunities: The EHL encourages cooperation, creating many local initiatives
• Support for recognition: The EHL@NET (created in 2018 and concluded in 2022) helps sites build skills, resources, and networks

Evaluation

Every six years, an independent expert committee evaluates the EHL, based on the European Commission’s Better Regulation Guidelines. The evaluation looks at relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, and EU added value.

2024 Evaluation – Key points

Covered 60 sites (2018–2024), with notable growth in Central and Eastern Europe.

Positive results

• 60%+ of sites saw higher visitor numbers after receiving the label
• strong youth engagement through education and cultural events
• improved access to EU funding (Creative Europe, Erasmus+, CERV)
• growing focus on sustainability, digital innovation, and social inclusion

Challenges

• defining “European significance” remains difficult
• smaller/rural sites face funding and administrative hurdles
• low public awareness of the EHL in some countries
• two-step application process is inefficient
• uneven adoption of digital tools

Recommendations

• clearer guidance on European narratives
• capacity-building for smaller sites
• stronger national-level promotion
• simplified application process
• funded digital engagement strategies

Strategic outlook

• continue promoting European values and identity
• support sustainable tourism and youth education
• possible legal framework revision in 2025–2026
• better links with Erasmus+, Creative Europe, Europe for Citizens, and the New European Bauhaus

2018 Evaluation – Key points

• covered 38 sites in 24 EU countries
• confirmed EHL’s value in strengthening EU identity and intercultural dialogue
• praised for common selection criteria and cross-border cooperation

Recommendations

• improve European storytelling
• increase thematic networking
• expand cautiously while keeping quality high