Operating Guidelines for the European Heritage Legal Forum (EHLF):
1. Task
1.1 To ensure that improved and timely information on the development and consequences of legal acts developed by the European
Union which may pose a potential threat to cultural heritage are conveyed to the national competent authorities.
2. Mandate
2.1 The actions of the EHLF are restricted to information gathering and impact assessment on EU legislation regarding cultural
heritage and communication thereof to relevant parties.
2.2 Individual EHLF members may, as representatives of their national administrations, undertake independent or joint political
lobby activities when these are part of their national authority competencies.
2.3 The EHLF may not, as a body, undertake political lobby activities. Such activity remains the prerogative of the national
competent authority and their national governments.
2.4 The EHLF is not a legal entity and has no budget.
2.5 The EHLF operating guidelines will be reviewed at least every 5 years
3. Membership
3.1 Members of the EHLF are mandated by their national competent authorities.
3.2 Members of the EHLF report to their national competent authorities.
4. Requirements
4.1 Members will communicate through the EHLF.
4.2 Members undertake to initiate and facilitate impact assessment of planned and existing EU legislation affecting cultural
heritage.
4.3 Members communicate and disseminate information on their impact assessment results through their competent authorities.
4.4 Members participate in an annual meeting.
4.5 Members are eligible to be appointed to the secretariat.
4.6 Members are responsible for organising that their own costs are met for work on monitoring, impact assessment and information
gathering as related to EHLF and those associated with their participation in meetings.
5. Secretariat
5.1 The members of the EHLF nominate a secretariat to administrate and coordinate the work
5.2 The secretariat members are nominated for 2 years and constitute themselves.
5.3 The secretariat should be composed of representatives of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 member countries.
5.4 The secretariat organises the EHLF meetings in collaboration with the hosting entity.
5.5 The secretariat organises the operation of the EHLF network.
Adopted in Brussels 23 September 2008
