ASCE President at the International Conference in Nova Gorica

ASCE President, Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, participated in the International Conference on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, held from April 14 to 16, 2025.

About the event

From April 14 to 16, 2025, the ASCE President, Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, participated in the International Conference "Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: Recognition and Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Cross-Border Regions", held in the cross-border towns of Gorizia (Italy), Nova Gorica, and Tolmin (Slovenia).

The event gathered representatives of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes, cultural heritage experts, local community representatives, and partners of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) to explore the role of Cultural Routes in fostering cross-border cooperation and preserving shared heritage.

Presentation of ASCE and European Cemeteries Route

As part of the official conference program, Mrs. Pliberšek presented the work of ASCE and the European Cemeteries Route, a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. In her presentation, cemeteries were portrayed as complex cultural landscapes with multiple dimensions: spaces of remembrance and burial, carriers of cultural and historical narratives, and increasingly as destinations for respectful, value-based tourism.

ASCE President also highlighted several key ASCE projects and the Park of Remembrance in Maribor, Slovenia, opened as part of the European Capital of Culture 2012, as a cross-border symbol of shared memory of the victims of the First and Second World Wars and post-war killings – without divisions and without judgments of values.

Her presentation emphasized the significance of cemeteries and the European Cemeteries Route in fostering cross-border cultural awareness and preserving Europe’s diverse heritage.

You can find the event program HERE.

ASCE President at the all-Slovenian Cultural Routes meeting

On October 10, 2024, ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, participated at the all-Slovenian meeting of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, organized by the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Maribor.

34th Days of European Cultural Heritage

Between September 28 and October 12, 2024, a series of events took place in numerous locations throughout Slovenia and its neighboring regions as part of the 34th Days of European Cultural Heritage and the 12th Cultural Heritage Week. This year's theme was "Heritage of Cultural Routes, Networking, and Connections."

Roundtable discussion: Connecting for Peace and Intercultural Cooperation

As part of these events, the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Maribor, a member of the Academic Network of Cultural Routes, organized an all-Slovenian meeting of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. This event was held on October 10, 2024, in Ljubljana, and featured a roundtable discussion titled "Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe – Connecting for Peace and Intercultural Cooperation." The meeting was also intended for discussions about the knowledge and competencies needed for cultural and thematic routes in Slovenia.

At the round table, Mrs Irena Marš from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia was joined by representatives of two Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe coordinated from Slovenia: Mrs Lidija Pliberšek from the European Cemeteries Route, and Mrs Andreja Rihter from the Women Writers' Route. The fourth participant was Mr Edvard Kovač, representing the Saint Martin of Tours Route, the first Slovenian route to receive the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe certification.

You can find the official PR statement about the event (in Slovenian) at this LINK.

European Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe

Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, president of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), spoke about the importance of cemeteries in building peace. Military cemeteries play a central role in this by reminding us of the tragedies, horrors, and suffering caused by wars. Additionally, cemeteries serve as a reminder of equality in death, emphasizing the respect for diversity, and the European Cemeteries Route plays an active role in this context.

ASCE president also introduced the Significant Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe initiative, launched by the Association in 2024 to support the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As part of the initiative, the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024 focused on environmental sustainability and climate change, with events and activities showcasing how cemeteries and visitors can contribute to reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, this project received the Best Practice Award 2024, granted by the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in September 2024.

Event highlights:

*The content is partially excerpted from the PR statement by Dr. Maja Turnšek.

ASCE President at the Regional Conference in Belgrade

On June 4-5, 2024, the "Public Utilities For All" conference was held in Belgrade, Serbia, with ASCE President as one of the guest speakers.

About the event

The Association for Communal Activities of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce organized the Regional Conference titled "Public Utilities For All", which took place on June 4th and 5th, 2024, at the Metropol Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia.

The concept of public utilities encompasses essential services provided by public institutions or private companies under strict regulatory frameworks to ensure access for all citizens. These services typically include water supply, waste management, public transport, and markets.

The "Public Utilities For All" conference emphasized the importance of ensuring that all citizens, regardless of economic status, location, or other factors, have access to these basic services. It was the first event of its kind and, in addition to addressing general topics relevant to communal services, the conference also featured special panels and thematic discussions on specific sectors.

The conference successfully brought together experts from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and solutions in the field of public utilities from Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the guest speakers was ASCE President, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, who presented the work of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe.

You can find the event program HERE.

*Photos source: https://komorars.ba/

ASCE President at the Roundtable Event in Piran

The President of ASCE attended a roundtable discussion on grave restoration, taking place on May 30, 2024, in Piran, Slovenia.

About the event

On Thursday, May 30, 2024, Tartini House in the city of Piran, Slovenia, hosted a roundtable discussion titled "Who Oversees the Restoration of Graves," focusing on the Piran Historical Cemetery.

The event was organized by the public company Okolje Piran in collaboration with the Italian Self-Governing Community of Piran and the Community of Italians “Giuseppe Tartini” Piran, as part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024.

The session opened with welcoming speeches from Fulvia Zudič, President of SI Giuseppe Tartini, Christian Poletti, Deputy Mayor of Piran, Giovanni Coviello, General Consul of Italy in Koper, and Andrea Bartole, President of the Italian Self-Governing Community of Piran.

Lidija Pliberšek, President of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), was among the key participants, presenting the work of the Association. The other speakers were Kristjan Knez, Nadia Zigante, Aljoša Pucer, Sandra Martinčić Loboda, Mateja Kavčič, and Mateja Hafner Dolenc.

The event aimed to discuss and ensure proper supervision of grave restorations, preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the region.

Photos from the event

The Cultural Routes Training Seminar in Vilnius

ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, will be a guest speaker at the Cultural Routes Training Seminar in Vilnius, Lithuania, taking place on 19 and 20 June, 2024.

The Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, in cooperation with the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) and the European Institute of Cultural Routes is organising a Cultural Routes Training Seminar for National Stakeholders.

The event will take place on 19 and 20 June, 2024, in Vilnius, Lithuania.

ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, will attend the event as one of the distinguished guest speakers. She will present the European Cemeteries Route as an example of Cultural Routes good practice.

The program will cover following topics:

• Context: the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme
• Workshop: Presentation of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Lithuania
• Defining a Cultural Route
• Tools for the governance of cultural routes
• Cultural routes – sustainable tourism, local development, and social participation
• Cultural Routes in practice
• Cultural routes communication and branding
• Roadmap for “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe” in Lithuania

You can find the preliminary program of the seminar HERE.

A new chapter in preserving European cemetery heritage

Introductory thoughts of ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, at the beginning of a new 4-year mandate.

Dear members, partners, and supporters of ASCE,

I am extremely proud and grateful that, at this year's elections in Mantua, Italy, I was given the opportunity to continue the presidency of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe. The trust you have placed in me fills me with immense gratitude. It is a trust I do not take lightly, and I pledge to proceed serving our shared mission with persistent devotion.

Twenty years ago, we embarked on a journey that was then relatively unknown. United with the same goal - the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage resting within European cemeteries - we started with just seven founding members. Today, with immense pride, I can say that we have grown into an organization with 180 members, a result of the hard work, dedication, and passion of each individual member. Our journey has been long but astonishingly successful.

The development our organization has experienced during this period has been remarkable. We established a clear vision and strategy that has been honed and perfected over the years. One of the key changes we have achieved is the professional administrative management of the organization and the digitization of our processes. We realized that in order to succeed and grow, it was essential to keep pace with the trends of the digital age. Today, we can proudly boast of the professional and digital support that enables members to actively participate in projects and contribute to our common goal.

Throughout, we have strived to strengthen the relationship between the presidency and the members. In the past, many of us pondered what ASCE could offer them. Today, we have reached a point where our members are empowered. They no longer ask what the organization can do for them but instead question what they can do for ASCE shared mission.

Our passion and dedication have led us to a moment where we can leverage this recognition to make our broader environment and institutions contemplate what they can do to assist and collaborate with us in preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of European cemeteries. It is crucial for significant institutions, ministries, institutes, and others to integrate our mission into their operations. Our organization is prepared for this challenge, and with great optimism, I believe that together, we will fulfil our mission in the best possible way.

So, thank you for being part of this exceptional community. Thank you for your trust, dedication, and unwavering belief in what we do. May the next four years leave another important mark in the story of ASCE.

Lidija Pliberšek, M. Sc.
ASCE president

ASCE president at the Cultural Route Certificate Ceremony

ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, attended the Cultural Route Certificate Ceremony at the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia.

On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, a ceremonial event was held in the small hall of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, at which the director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes, Stefano Dominioni, from Luxembourg, handed over the Council of Europe Cultural Route Certificate to the Women Writers Route.

On this occasion, the gathered were address by:

• dr. Andreja Rihter, president of the Cultural Tourist Association of the Women Writers Route,
• Tamara Vonta, president of the Committee for Culture of the Slovenian National Assembly and Head of the Delegation of the Slovenian National Assembly in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
• Špela Spanžel, director general of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage of the Slovenian Ministry of Culture,
• M.Sc. Urška Klakočar Zupančič, president of the Slovenian National Assembly.

At the invitation of the organizers, M.Sc. Lidija Pliberšek, President of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe, which manages the European Cemeteries Route project, attended the event. 

The official part of the ceremony was followed by an informal social gathering where the guests had the opportunity to exchange valuable experiences, insights, and perspectives on cultural routes in Slovenia and their interconnectedness.

The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe's 10th Training Academy

ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, participated in the 10th Training Academy of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, which took place from May 30th to June 2nd, 2023, in France.

Looking to the Future: visibility, cooperation and sustainability

The 10th Training Academy of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, hosted by Prehistoric Rock Art Trails, took place from May 30th to June 2nd, 2023, in the picturesque Dordogne region of France, in Périgueux-Montignac and Les Eyzies de Tayac, on the theme "Looking to the Future: visibility, cooperation and sustainability in the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe”.

As the theme suggests, this year's Training Academy had a clear focus on shaping the future of Cultural Routes, emphasizing three key aspects: visibility, collaboration, and sustainability. Representatives from various cultural routes and countries attended the event to exchange experiences, learn from good management practices, and advance ideas for new topics of engagement and areas for improvement.

In light of the event, it was established that the European Cemeteries Route would actively contribute to the Sustainability Working Group, established at the Forum in Chania on October 5th, 2022. This decision highlights the commitment of the European Cemeteries Route to contribute to sustainable practices and promote responsible tourism within the cultural routes framework. Joining forces with six other cultural routes, we are committed to collectively tackle sustainability challenges, assess the environmental, social, and economic impact of our projects, develop practical tools and resources, and share best practices to pave the way for a brighter future.

We warmly invite all members of our association to join us in our pursuit of creating a more sustainable and impactful future.

Photos from the event

ASCE president at a conference in Budapest

On 16 May 2023, ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, attended the Engaged Authorities Conference for Jewish cemeteries in Budapest, Hungary.

About the Conference

The ESJF’s Conference, taking place in the Central European University in Budapest, focused on the role of Public Authorities in the care and management of Jewish cemeteries.

In a keynote speech, ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, talked about the work and importance of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) and the European Cemeteries Route project.

Other conference participants were: Mr Philip Carmel (ESJF Chief Executive Officer), Dr. Paul Darby (researcher working with the Foundation for Jewish Heritage), Mr Ivan Pohorilyak (Mayor of Perechyn in Ukraine), Mr Avraham Yishai (Head of the Legal Center for Combating Antisemitism, IJL Association), Mrs Olena Kolb (Public Sector Liaison Ambassador, ESJF), Mrs Maria Baranyi (Coordinator for Hungary, ESJF), Mr Steven Reece Ph.D (The Matzevah Foundation, Fulbright Scholar), Mrs Sophie Pownall (Assitant Project Manager, ESJF, moderator), Mrs Alexandra Fishel (ESJF Educational projects officer), Mr Andrzey Jankowskyi (former Project Coordinator at GWŻ Warszawa), Dr. Pascale Falek (Policy Officer at the EU Commission, Office of the Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers) and Mrs Kateryna Malakhova, Ph.D (ESJF Historical Researcher).

Photos from the Conference

ASCE president at a seminar in Naples

On 14 March 2023, ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, will attend an international seminar at the University of Naples in Italy.

About the seminar

The international seminar entitled “Rethinking lastscapes Perspective. Debate and Exchange” is one of the activities organized as part of the research conducted by the Department of Architecture of the University of Naples Federico II in Italy.

The research investigates the burial spaces in the contemporary city to identify, in relation to the changes brought about by new burial techniques, the need to save land in the changed urban, social, cultural and economic conditions, and the new possible roles and planning strategies for these places of memory that urgently need to be rethought today.

The seminar is intended to compare multiple points of view on the subject by calling to debate Italian and foreign experts in order to identify possible futures for these parts of the city.

Presentation of ASCE

ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, will attend the seminar as a guest speaker with a presentation on the meaning, mission, and development of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe.

Exhibition at the museum PAN

The seminar will be accompanied by an exhibition at the museum PAN, Palazzo delle Arti di Napoli, which will be open to the public for free until 14 March, and displays the work made on Poggioreale, the complex and challenging Neapolitan cemetery system, and on other international case studies that have been investigated in the context of the research.

Photos of the seminar

Main photo source: www.unsplash.com