Applying for the European Heritage Label
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Applying for the European Heritage Label
The Finnish Heritage Agency is responsible for the pre-selection of the sites on the national level. The cultural heritage actors interested in the label can submit a preproposal to the Finnish Heritage. Next call will be organised in spring 2028.
Timeline of the applications
The Finnish Heritage Agency will open a call for proposals in spring 2028.
Webinar related to the selection will be organised
Preproposals must arrive the Finnish Heritage Agency by the deadline in May/June 2028.
June: the steering group discusses the applications; feedback is given to all applicants by email.
August: applicants have the option to send an improved application to the Finnish Heritage Agency. The steering group discusses the applications and the Agency makes a presentation about the best object with reasons to the Ministry of Education and Culture
September: the Ministry of Education and Culture makes a decision on the site, for which the communities will prepare an application to the European Commission.
September – November: participatory preparatory processes, webinars and workshops in which stakeholders are involved in the preparation of the application.
December: application for comments to the Finnish Heritage Agency, the steering group and the Ministry of Education and Culture.
January - February 2029: application refinement and translations
1st March 2029 the latest, the Finnish Heritage Agency will send the application to the European Commission.
Step 1: Pre-selection at national level
Self-assessment form
Use this self-assessment form to test whether your site meets the criteria for the European Heritage Label and the resource requirements for the application. At the same time, you will receive information on what else to consider before participating in the selection.
Instructions for applicants
Familiarize yourself with the instructions for applicants by the Finnish Heritage Agency on the pre-selection in Finland in 2024. Questions related to the pre-selection can be found at the end of the document. You can answer in Finnish or Swedish.
Instructions for EHL-selection 2024
The European Commission Guidelines
The European Commission's guide for applicants for the European Heritage Label provides more detailed guidance on what types of sites can be applied for and the criteria for evaluating them.
Application guide by the European Commission
Application forms
There are three forms to be sent to the European Commission. These forms are only required for applications sent to the Commission, not for the pre-selection. It is good to get to know them already at early stages.
1. Single site: a single site in a single Member State
2. National thematic site: several sub-sites located in the same Member State, all focused on one specific theme.
3. Transnational site: several sub-sites located in different Member States all focused on one specific theme.