# European Cultural Convention

The European Cultural Convention is an international Council of Europe's treaty to strengthen, deepen and further develop a European culture, by using local culture as a starting point. Setting common goals and a plan of action to reach an integrated European society, celebrating universal values, rights and diversity. The Convention contributes to joint action by encouraging cultural activities of European interest.

## History

The European Cultural Convention was opened for signature by the Council of Europe in Paris on 19 December 1954 and entered into force on 5 May 1955. Its signature is one of the conditions for becoming a participating state in the Bologna Process and its European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The term "Convention" is used as a synonym for an international legal treaty.
The convention has been ratified by all 46 member states of the Council of Europe, its sole former member Russia as well as by Belarus, the Holy See and Kazakhstan.
The Council of Europe's Youth Sector with the European Youth Foundation, the European Youth Centres and its co-managed structures like the Advisory Council on Youth (AC) and the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) covers all countries signatory to the European Cultural Convention, because the youth sector originally came under the Directorate of Education, Culture and Sport.

## Members

The 50 Signatories to the European Cultural Convention are:
| Signatory | Signature | Ratification | Entry into force |
| Albania | | 25 June 1992 | 25 June 1992 |
| Andorra | 10 November 1994 | 22 January 1996 | 22 January 1996 |
| Armenia | | 25 April 1997 | 25 April 1997 |
| Austria | 13 December 1957 | 4 March 1958 | 4 March 1958 |
| Azerbaijan | | 25 April 1997 | 25 April 1997 |
| Belarus | | 18 October 1993 | 18 October 1993 |
| Belgium | 19 December 1954 | 11 May 1955 | 11 May 1955 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | | 29 December 1994 | 29 December 1994 |
| Bulgaria | | 2 September 1991 | 2 September 1991 |
| Croatia | | 27 January 1993 | 27 January 1993 |
| Cyprus | 30 November 1967 | 23 September 1969 | 23 September 1969 |
| Czech Republic | | 10 May 1990 | 1 January 1993 |
| Denmark | 19 December 1954 | 7 May 1955 | 7 May 1955 |
| Estonia | | 7 May 1992 | 7 May 1992 |
| Finland | | 23 January 1970 | 23 January 1970 |
| France | 19 December 1954 | 5 May 1955 | 5 May 1955 |
| Georgia | | 25 April 1997 | 25 April 1997 |
| Germany | 19 December 1954 | 17 November 1955 | 17 November 1955 |
| Greece | 19 December 1954 | 10 January 1962 | 10 January 1962 |
| Holy See | | 10 December 1962 | 10 December 1962 |
| Hungary | | 16 November 1989 | 16 November 1989 |
| Iceland | 19 December 1954 | 1 March 1956 | 1 March 1956 |
| Ireland | 19 December 1954 | 11 March 1955 | 5 May 1955 |
| Italy | 19 December 1954 | 16 May 1957 | 16 May 1957 |
| Latvia | | 7 May 1992 | 7 May 1992 |
| Kazakhstan | | 5 March 2010 | 5 March 2010 |
| Liechtenstein | 23 November 1978 | 13 June 1979 | 13 June 1979 |
| Lithuania | | 7 May 1992 | 7 May 1992 |
| Luxembourg | 19 December 1954 | 30 July 1956 | 30 July 1956 |
| Malta | 2 May 1966 | 12 December 1966 | 12 December 1966 |
| Moldova | | 24 May 1994 | 24 May 1994 |
| Monaco | | 6 July 1994 | 6 July 1994 |
| Montenegro | | 28 February 2001 | 6 June 2006 |
| Netherlands | 19 December 1954 | 8 February 1956 | 8 February 1956 |
| North Macedonia | | 24 November 1995 | 24 November 1995 |
| Norway | 19 December 1954 | 24 January 1956 | 24 January 1956 |
| Poland | | 16 November 1989 | 16 November 1989 |
| Portugal | | 16 February 1976 | 16 February 1976 |
| Romania | | 19 December 1991 | 19 December 1991 |
| Russia | | 21 February 1991 | 21 February 1991 |
| San Marino | | 13 February 1986 | 13 February 1986 |
| Serbia | | 28 February 2001 | 28 February 2001 |
| Slovakia | | 1 January 1993 | 1 January 1993 |
| Slovenia | | 2 July 1992 | 2 July 1992 |
| Spain | | 4 July 1957 | 4 July 1957 |
| Sweden | 19 December 1954 | 16 June 1958 | 16 June 1958 |
| Switzerland | | 13 July 1962 | 13 July 1962 |
| Turkey | 19 December 1954 | 10 October 1957 | 10 October 1957 |
| Ukraine | | 13 June 1994 | 13 June 1994 |
| United Kingdom | 19 December 1954 | 5 May 1955 | 5 May 1955 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Accession.
* 1 2 3 Non-Member of Council of Europe.
* 1 2 3 4 Succession.