Integrated management tools in the heritage of South-East Europe

As part of the Institutional Capacity Building Plan, which is the first of the three components of the Regional Programme for Cultural and Natural Heritage in South-East Europe launched in 2003, a "transnational theme-based debate" was organised. The second step in this debate stemmed from an assessment of requests from the countries/regions participating in the Regional Programme: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo/ UNMIK, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".The first step was concerned with current heritage policies and legislation. Its aim was to take stock of the position regarding legislative reforms and heritage policies in the countries of South-East Europe. It also highlighted the need for an in-depth analysis of certain key areas where difficulties still arose in implementation.The second step was concerned with tools for integrated management of the cultural and natural heritage, in the broad sense of the term "heritage" (the concept of cultural environment). It linked together three key topics previously identified: documentation systems, incorporating the heritage dimension in environment, regional development and town planning documents, permits, controls and penalties related to heritage conservation work.