European Capital of Culture
The European Capital of Culture ( 1985 to 1999 European City of Culture ) is a cultural initiative of the European Union. Each year, the European Capital of Culture in at least two cities will be awarded (since 2004) of the EU. In addition, provide cultural capitals continue to non-Member States. The designation is intended to help highlight the richness, diversity and shared characteristics of European cultural heritage and to facilitate a better understanding of European citizens for each other.
Meeting within the European Community Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs adopted on a proposal from the then Greek Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri on 13 June 1985, a resolution for the annual event ' European City of Culture ". Through this event, for those of the Community funding has been made available to the European public particular cultural aspects of the city, region or country concerned should be made available.
The Decision 1419/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999, a Community Action European Capital of Culture was set up and established a rotating basis. Since 1985, the title is given continuously for one year.
In that year many cultural events take place in the " cultural capitals ". The cities are hoping for from carrying this title for one year increased attention and many visitors.
Procurement procedures
By the act 649/2005/EC of the European Parliament and the Council adopted a list of the order of the Member States. From 2009 to one city from each of the Member States appearing on the list. Each Member State shall inform the European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions with the appointment of one or more cities. This notification shall be made no later than four years before the start of the event, possibly with a recommendation of the Member State concerned.
The Commission shall each year form a selection panel, which works out about the naming submitted a report. The selection panel shall be composed of seven leading independent figures who are experts in the field of culture. Two are appointed by the European Parliament, two by the Council, two by the Commission and one by the Committee of the Regions.
The Council, acting on a recommendation from the Commission, drawn up in the light of the opinion of the European Parliament and of the report of the jury, officially designates the city for the year for which it has been nominated for the European Capital of Culture.
To quickly integrate the case of EU enlargement in 2004 and 2007 -added new EU members in the action, two capitals are appointed from 2009, including one from old Member States and one from the new.
Evaluation criteria of the European Commission
The EU has established eleven evaluation criteria for the assessment of applications for future European Capitals of Culture. All applicant cities to European Capital of Culture must align their applications against these criteria. A complete listing of all EU evaluation criteria is published in Information Portal Culture 2010.