The World Heritage Committee will at its 34th session in 2010 examine the followup activities of Periodic Reporting in Europe and the Nordic-Baltic sub-region. This meeting will summarize the activities undertaken in the region and prepare for the next cycle of Periodic Reporting to be launched in 2012.
In accordance with article 29 of the World Heritage Convention, the States Parties are invited to submit to the World Heritage Committee a periodic report every six years on the application of the World Heritage Convention, including the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties located on its territories.
The Periodic Reporting is intended to serve four main purposes:
* To provide an assessment of the application of the World Heritage Convention by the State Party;
* To provide an assessment as to whether the World Heritage values of the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List are being maintained over time;
* To provide up-dated information about the World Heritage properties to record the changing circumstances and state of conservation of the properties;
* To provide a mechanism for regional co-operation and exchange of information and experiences between States Parties concerning the implementation of the Convention and World Heritage conservation.
The first cycle of Periodic Reporting (PR) in Europe was concluded in 2005/06 and followed by a two year reflection period. In the Nordic-Baltic Region, the first cycle included only cultural sites, inscribed on the World Heritage List before 1998. The second cycle of PR will be launched in Europe and the Nordic-Baltic sub-region in 2012. A number of new sites in the sub-region are to take part in the second cycle of PR, including several natural sites. Sharing of experiences and knowledge between already participating Focal Points and sites and new Focal Points and sites is of vital importance in preparing for a new cycle of PR in the Nordic-Baltic region.
