Decision 28 COM 15B.70

28 COM 15B.70

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Regrets that the German authorities had not provided the information concerning the high-rise building projects in time, in accordance with paragraph 56 of the Operational Guidelines (2002);

2. Noting the information provided on the current situation at the site, including the announcement to continue with the implementation of the construction project,

3. Regrets that the State Party has not yet designated a buffer zone for the property despite the Committee’s request at the time of the inscription;

4. Urges the City of Cologne to reconsider the current building plans as to their visual impact on the World Heritage property of Cologne Cathedral and requests that any new construction should respect the visual integrity of the property ;

5. Invites the City of Cologne to collaborate with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS in the review of the building plans;

6. Recalls article 11.4 of the World Heritage Convention and paragraph 82 of the Operational Guidelines (2002) with regard to ascertained danger (including serious deterioration of architectural or town-planning coherence, serious deterioration of urban space) and potential danger (including threatening effects of town planning);

7. Requests the State Party to provide a detailed report on the situation, including the status of the building plans, visual impact studies as well as the development of a buffer zone, by 1 February 2005 for review by the World Heritage Committee at its 29th session in 2005;

8. Decides to inscribe Cologne Cathedral on the List of World Heritage in Danger.