This past week, AEPJ successfully held two important stakeholder consultation meetings in Madrid and Barcelona as part of the development of the National Report Card for Spain, within the framework of the European project NOA – Networks Overcoming Antisemitism. Funded by the European Commission, NOA seeks to support EU Member States in developing comprehensive strategies to prevent and combat antisemitism while fostering vibrant Jewish life.

The National Report Cards are a cornerstone of the NOA project. They provide a detailed, evidence-based assessment of national policies in key areas such as education, culture, security, and community participation, offering guidance to strengthen conditions for Jewish life across Europe. The methodology combines desk research, interviews with key actors, and participatory workshops, aligning with European and international standards.

From 11 to 13 June 2025, the AEPJ – European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage – took part in the 12th edition of the Cultural Routes Training Academy of the Council of Europe. Held across Torres Vedras, Arruda dos Vinhos, and Vila Franca de Xira in Portugal, the event brought together over 70 participants representing more than 30 certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

The Training Academy, jointly organised by the European Institute of Cultural Routes, the European Federations of Napoleonic Cities and Iter Vitis, and several Portuguese institutions, was dedicated this year to the theme of “Cooperation and Cultural Routes.” It served as a unique platform for capacity building, strategic dialogue, and cross-route exchange.

On June 12th, AEPJ took part in the Remembrance Cluster Meeting held in Brussels, organised by the European Commission (DG JUST) and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The meeting brought together all beneficiaries of the CERV-REM programme from the 2023 and 2024 calls, offering a unique opportunity for exchange, reflection and future collaboration.

AEPJ was present as one of the partner organisations of the project Mi Dor Le Dor Europe, selected under the 2023 REM call. This ambitious initiative aims to strengthen transnational networks of educators working with Jewish memory and heritage in Europe. The project supports teachers and heritage professionals in developing and implementing educational experiences such as city walks, classroom activities or games, that make Jewish history visible and relevant in today’s European societies.

Under the leadership of the Jewish Heritage Network, the EMDS Blueprint project has been launched with the goal of developing an online platform that interconnects digital information sources related to the legacy and memory of the Holocaust. This initiative fosters a dialogue between specialized sectors in the digital field and leading professionals across Europe working in Holocaust memory—a field in which many AEPJ members particularly excel.

Hosted by the National Holocaust Museum in The Netherlands, the event promoted a cross-sectoral debate among professionals aimed at identifying key needs, challenges, risks, strengths, and opportunities encountered by those working in Holocaust heritage and memory and those working on digital platforms. The confluence between both fields is addressed not only as a space for visibility but also as a domain for knowledge exchange and a catalyst for action in awareness-raising, education, and content creation based on existing data.

On 4 June 2025, the city of Trnava hosted the conference “Slovenská cesta židovského kultúrneho dedičstva” (The Slovak Jewish Heritage Route), held at the Synagogue – Center for Contemporary Art of the Ján Koniarek Gallery. The event brought together experts, local authorities, cultural professionals, and community leaders to explore the development and promotion of Jewish heritage in Slovakia, and its integration into a broader European framework.

The conference was held under the auspices of the Trnava County Governor Jozef Viskupič. It was co-organised by the Regional Tourism Organization of the Trnava Region, in cooperation with the University of Trnava and the Slovak Jewish Cultural Heritage Foundation Menorah, which also serves as the coordinator of the Slovak Jewish Cultural Heritage Route.

The 2025 General Assembly of the AEPJ was held in Rome on May 11 and 12, gathering representatives from over 15 countries across Europe. The meeting marked a new chapter for the organisation, reflecting both its continued growth and the strong commitment of its network to preserving and promoting Jewish heritage.

Hosted by the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI), the Assembly featured a rich and fruitful programme. Strategic priorities were approved for the coming years, including the continued development of AEPJ’s two flagship initiatives, the European Days of Jewish Culture and the European Routes of Jewish Heritage, with a strong focus on partnerships, outreach and structural improvements. AEPJ also presented its 2026–2030 strategic roadmap for the Routes, reaffirming its role within the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

Young members of the Lech Lecha Jewish community in Minsk recently participated in a unique heritage walk aimed at testing the demo version of a mobile toolkit developed within the Next Routes Project. This initiative is part of a broader effort to make European history and heritage more accessible and engaging through interactive, tech-driven experiences, where AEPJ and The Together Plan joined efforts to later transfer the outputs of the project to the European Routes of Jewish Heritage members.

The tour started at the Daumana Street Synagogue, the only active Orthodox synagogue in Minsk and an important cultural and spiritual centre for the local Jewish community. From there, participants followed a carefully designed route through the city, uncovering the layered and often overlooked history of Jewish life in the Belarusian capital.

AEPJ takes part of the working group of the European Heritage Days for the definition of the theme of 2027, contributing from the Jewish heritage narratives perspective. The meeting is framed within the strategic cooperation between Cultural Routes and the European Heritage Days the Council of Europe.

The AEPJ has been invited by the Council of Europe to the working group on the theme of the 2027 European Heritage Days, which is composed by a core of experts representing several countries, national coordinators of the EHD, and experts in cultural heritage management. In its quest to strengthen transversal relationships between the different projects around cultural heritage that the Council of Europe promotes, the coordination team of the EHD at European level has counted on the AEPJ since it is not only the leading institution of the European Routes of Jewish Heritage as a certified by the Council of Europe, but also because the European Days of Jewish Culture take place at the same time of the year as the European Heritage Days. 

On April 2–3, 2025, the city of La Laguna in Tenerife hosted the IV Meeting of Cultural Route Managers of the Council of Europe in Spain. This key annual gathering brought together coordinators and representatives from various Cultural Routes to explore strategies for enhancing visibility, communication, and shared identity within the framework of the Council of Europe programme.

The AEPJ was proudly represented by Assumpció Hosta, Secretary General, who contributed to the exchange of best practices and discussions around the challenges and opportunities in the field of communication for cultural routes. The event was structured around thematic plenary sessions, open discussions and working group proposals, resulting in a document of conclusions that outlines practical recommendations to strengthen communication and the strategic positioning of the programme.