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The European Heritage Label (EHL)
is an European Union initiative launched Since its implementation, 38 Sites
in 2011 by the European Parliament and the have already been recognised
Council. by the European Heritage Label.

The general objectives of the European Heritage
Label consist of strengthening European The history behind the building of these values,
citizens’ sense of belonging to the European being the respect for human dignity, freedom,
Union, in particular that of young people, based democracy, equality, rule of law or the respect
on the shared values and elements of European for human rights, is materialised in different
history and cultural heritage, appreciating patrimonial expressions in the different
natural and regional diversity and strengthening European countries.
intercultural dialogue.
In order to achieve these objectives, the EHL Despite its diversity and plurality – from natural
seeks to stress the symbolic value and raise to documental heritage, also featuring urban,
the visibility of places, events or periods industrial or archaeological heritage –, all Sites
that have played a significant role in the history celebrate and symbolically represent the ideal
and culture of Europe or in the building of of European integration. In order to build and
the European Union. reference a culture and a historical memory,
The EHL is different from other initiatives the EHL seeks to generate and strengthen
concerning cultural heritage such as the sense of belonging, identity and cohesion
the UNESCO World Heritage List, the UNESCO in European citizens. These feelings are essential
Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage to an active transnational citizenship, conscious
or the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. of the challenges the European project faces
Furthermore, it is not about recognising as a place of freedom, democracy and respect
the beauty or architectural quality of a site, for the Human Rights.
but rather its symbolic value. It is not about
conserving sites, but rather the activities offered Currently, Portugal has 3 EHL Sites,
and their educational dimension, especially for namely, the General Library of the
young people. University of Coimbra, which stands out