In 2011 UNESCO launched ten upstream pilot projects intended to offer support and facilitate application procedures involving several countries.
In its decisions adopted at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Bonn between 28 June and 8 July, the Committee and its partners decided to remove the Dinaric karst nomination from the list of eligible projects.
The Committee concluded that member states should continue with their nomination on their own.
If member states decide to go ahead with their candidacy independently, they will no longer be partners but rivals, which will reduce their chances of protecting their karst, UNESCO expert Paul Williams said.
The said countries - Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy and Albania - have not managed to reach a minimum level of agreement even on the text of a letter of intent to apply for the project.