The EU will have its own list of monuments, similar to UNESCO

Brussels - The European Union will establish its own list of exceptional monuments, similar to the one maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Starting in 2013, the first sites celebrating the history or development of the union will bear the European Heritage label. This was agreed upon today by the culture ministers of the "twenty-seven" countries.
      The first monuments on the newly emerging list will be able to be nominated by member countries from 2013 to 2014. Individual proposals will be evaluated by a commission of independent experts.
      "The European Heritage designation will encourage more people, especially young people, to think about the European dimension of our shared history," noted the Commissioner for Culture, Androulla Vassiliou, regarding today’s agreement. According to her, it will also benefit tourism.
      The UNESCO World Heritage List helps to promote the individual monuments that are included on it. The Czech Republic has sites like Český Krumlov and the Tugendhat Villa in Brno listed.
      The "European Heritage" project is not the first similar initiative from the EU. In the past, 68 monuments have received some designation through various initiatives, which will also be able to apply for the new EU designation.