Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community initiative for 'The European city of culture' event
Date: 1997-10-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU initiative, European symbol, cultural cooperation, cultural event, town

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

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Brussels, 30.10.1997 
COM(97) 549 final 

97/0290 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL  DECISION 

establishing a Community  initiative 

for 

"The European City of Culture" event 

(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

This proposal  is to  set  up  a Community  initiative  to  provide  support  for  a major  annual 
event,  "The  European  City  of  Culture", the  purpose  of which  is to  highlight  the  cultural 
wealth  and  diversity  of  the  cities  of  Europe  whilst  emphasising  their  shared  cultural 
heritage and the vitality of the arts. 

Seen  as a way  of  bringing  the peoples  of  Europe  closer  together,  the  "European  City of 
Culture" was launched, on the initiative of Melina Mercouri, by the Council  of Ministers 
on  13 June  1985.3  Since  then,  the  popularity  of  this  event  has  gone  from  strength  to 
strength, its cultural and socio-economic  impact being measurable by the large number of 
visitors to the  city  concerned.4  These  "Cities  of  Culture"  have  staged  numerous  cultural 
events in all fields of artistic endeavour. 

The cities designated  "European Cities of Culture" to date have been: 

1985: Athens 
1986: Florence 
1987: Amsterdam 
1988: Berlin 
1989: Paris 

1990: Glasgow 
1991: Dublin 
1992: Madrid 
1993: Antwerp 
1994: Lisbon 

1995: Luxembourg 
1996: Copenhagen 
1997: Thessaloniki 
1998: Stockholm 
1999: Weimar 

As regards the year 2000, in view of the  large  number  of applications  submitted  and the 
particular  symbolism  of  that  year,  marking  as  it  does  the  transition  to  the  third 
millennium,  the  following  cities  have  been  jointly  designated:  Avignon,  Bergen, 
Bologna, Brussels, Cracow, Helsinki, Prague, Reykjavik,  Santiago de Compostela. 

Furthermore,  in  response  to  the  growing  number  of  applications  from  cities  both  inside 
and  outside  the  Community  to host  the  "European  City  of  Culture"  event,  the  Ministers 
of  Culture,  through  their  Conclusions  of  18 May  1990,5  introduced  the  "European 
Cultural  Month",  a  scheme  which  has  the  same  objectives  as  the  European  City  of 
Culture but is intended mainly  for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. 

Cities  designated  to  host  the  "European  Cultural  Month"  to  date  are:  1992: Cracow; 
1993: Graz;  1994: Budapest;  1995: Nicosia;  1996: St Petersburg;  1997:  Ljubljana; 
1998: Valetta and Linz;  1999: Plovdiv. 

Since  1991 a network  of European  Cities of Culture  has been developed to enable those 
professionally  involved  in organising the event to compare  notes. In  1994, at the request 

3  OJC  153, 22.6.1985, p. 2. 

4 

See Study by John  Myerscough: "The European Cities of Culture and the European  Month of Culture' 
1994. 

5  OJC  162, 3.7.1990, p. 1. 

of  the  Commission,  this  network,  which  receives  a  subsidy  from  the  Community, 
produced a study of the impact of the event since its inception.6 

Up to now, the  "European  City  of Culture" has  been an intergovernmental  initiative, the 
choice  of  city  being  a  political  decision  taken  by  the  representatives  of  the  Member 
States.  Every  year,  the  Community  has  made  a  contribution  to  the  "European  City  of 
Culture"  and  to  the  city  chosen  to  host  the  "European  Cultural  Month".  The  cultural 
competence  assigned  to the  Community  by the Treaty  on  European  Union  now  requires 
that  this  event  be placed  in  the  Community  framework.  That  is  why,  in  the  discussions 
leading up to its opinion of 7 April  1995 on the Kaleidoscope  programme,7 the  European 
Parliament  asked the Commission  to present a specific  programme  on the European  City 
of Culture after the year 2000 based on Article  128 of the Treaty. 

In this context, the Commission proposes that: 

-  each  year  a  city  be  chosen  to  carry  out  a  cultural  project  on  a  specific,  European 
theme, possibly in association with other European cities, along the lines set out in this 
Decision  and  in accordance  with  the  principles  for  Community  action  in  the  cultural 
field enshrined in Article 128; 

- 

the "European Cultural Month" event be discontinued; 

- 

from  2000  to 2005  inclusive,  a  "European  City  of  Culture"  event  be  organised  at 
Community  level and that this event, including the funding  for  it, be incorporated  into 
a  single  "culture" programme,  for  which  the  Commission  will  present  proposals  by 
May 1998; 

-  Parliament  and  the  Council  adopt  these  proposals  under  the  procedure  laid  down  in 

Article  128 EC; 

-  as an exception  during the transition, the Council  select the  European  City  of Culture 
for  2001  to  give  the  city  time  to  prepare  and  carry  out  its  programme  properly  (the 
cities for 2000 having already been chosen). 

See Note 2. 

7 

See report by Mr Augias PE 211.116/fin  of 27 March  1995; 
Amended Commission proposal COM(95) 373 final of 28 July 1995; 
Decision  719/96  of  29  March  1996  (recital  11)  establishing  a  programme  to  support  artistic  and 
cultural activities having a European dimension  (Kaleidoscope). 

3 

Proposal for  a 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 

establishing a Community initiative 

for 

"The European City of Culture" event 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article 128 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

Having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions, 

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty, 

1.  Whereas Europe has, throughout its history, been the site of exceptionally  prolific 
and varied artistic activity; whereas urban life has played a major role in the growth and 
influence of the European cultures; 

2. 
Whereas  the  EC Treaty  gives  the  Community  competence  in  the  cultural  field 
(Article  128);  whereas  all  Community  activity  designed  to  promote  the  arts  should 
therefore be placed on the new legal  basis, in accordance with the objectives and means 
assigned to the Community by the Treaty; 

3. 
Whereas, on  13 June 1985, the Ministers responsible  for cultural  affairs  meeting 
within  the  Council  adopted  a  resolution  concerning  the  annual  organisation  of  the 
"European City of Culture", the main aim of which was to make certain cultural aspects 
of the city, region or country in question accessible to the European public, an event for 
which the European Community has provided financial support; 

4. 
Whereas Parliament, in the discussions  leading up to its opinion of 7 April 1995 
on  the  Kaleidoscope  programme,1  asked  the  Commission  to  present  a  specific 
programme  on  the  European  City  of  Culture  after  the  year  2000  on  the  basis  of 
Article  128 of the EC Treaty; 

5. 
Whereas  any  Community  initiative  to  promote  the  "European  City  of  Culture" 
must  satisfy  predefined  objectives  and use  the resources  provided  for  by  the  Treaty  in 
accordance with Article 128; 

See report by Mr Augias PE 211.116/fin  of 27 March  1995; 
Amended Commission proposal COM(95) 373 final  of 28 July  1995; 
Decision  719/96  of  29  March  1996  (recital  11)  establishing  a  programme  to  support  artistic  and 
cultural activities having a European dimension (Kaleidoscope). 

4 

Whereas, in compliance with the principles for action laid down by Article  128, a 
6. 
"European  City of Culture" is to be selected  each year to organise a cultural project  on a 
specific, European theme, possibly in association with other European cities; 

7. 

Whereas the "European Cultural Month" event should be discontinued; 

8. 
Whereas  the  Community  has  in  the  past  made  a  contribution  to  the  "European 
City  of  Culture"  and  the  "European  Cultural  Month"  events  under  the  Kaleidoscope 
Programme, which is due to expire in  1998;2 

9. 
Whereas  the  Council  adopted  a  Decision  on  30 June  1997  calling  on  the 
Commission, in accordance with Article  152 of the EC Treaty, to conduct a study prior to 
presenting  proposals  for  a  single  programme  for  culture  by  May  1998,  into  which  an 
Action "European City of Culture" will be incorporated, including funding  arrangements, 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 

ArtkleJ. 

The  Community  shall  organise  a  promotional  initiative  entitled  "European  City  of 
Culture".  The  purpose  shall  be  to  highlight  the  richness  and  diversity  of  European 
cultures, and the features  they  share, and promote  greater mutual  acquaintance  between 
Union citizens. 

Article 2 

From  2002,  the  "European  City  of  Culture"  shall  be  chosen  in  accordance  with  the 
following procedure: 

- 

- 

three years before the event is due to begin, the Member States concerned shall  submit 
to the Commission an application  for the town or towns, as described  in Article 3, for 
the year in question; 

the  Commission  shall  form  a  Selection  Panel  which  shall  deliver  its  opinion  on  the 
applications,  judged  against  the  objectives  and  characteristics  of  this  Action.  The 
Selection Panel shall be composed of seven leading independent  figures  of whom  two 
shall be appointed by Parliament, two by the Council, two by the Commission and one 
by the Committee of the Regions. The Selection Panel shall present  its opinion to the 
Commission; 

-  on  a  proposal  from  the  Commission  and  after  the  European  Parliament  has  been 
consulted,  the  Council,  acting  by  qualified  majority,  shall  designate  the  "European 
City of Culture" for the year in question 

Article 3 

The application must present a European cultural project focusing  on a specific  European 
theme  and  based  principally  on  cultural  cooperation,  in  accordance  with  the  objectives 

See  European  Parliament  and  Council  Decision  719/96  of  29 March  1996  establishing 
Kaleidoscope Programme (Action 4). 

the 

and  measures  provided  for  by  Article  128  of  the  EC Treaty.  The  project  may  be 
organised in association with other European cities. 

The application must specify  how, within the scope allowed by the theme, the applicant 
city intends: 

-  to highlight artistic movements and styles shared by Europeans which it has inspired 

or to which it has made a significant contribution: 

-  to promote  cultural  events  and works  involving  people  active  in  culture from other 

cities in Member States of the Union and leading to lasting cultural cooperation; 

-  to  receive  citizens  of  the  Union  and reach  as  wide  an audience  as  possible  for the 

various events by employing a multimedia, multilingual approach; and 

-  to  promote  dialogue  between  European  cultures  and  those  from  other  parts  of  the 

world. 

Article 4 

The  countries  of  the  European  Economic  Area, the  associated  countries  of  central  and 
eastern Europe, Cyprus and European third countries which have concluded cooperation 
agreements  with  the  Community  containing  a  cultural  clause  shall  be  allowed  to 
participate in this initiative. 

Article 5 

The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of this intiative Each year it 
shall produce a report evaluating the results of the previous year's event. This report shall 
be presented to Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions. 

Arikk_6 

This  initiative,  containing  detailed  information  on  procedure  and  closing  dates  for 
submission  of  applications,  shall  be published  each year in the  C Series  of  the Official 
Journal of the European Communities. 

Article 7 

This Decision shall enter into force on 

ANNEX 

"European City of Culture" Initiative 

Conditions of participation 

In  order  to  promote  cultural  awareness,  greater  mutual  acquaintance  between  Union 
citizens  and  cooperation  and  exchanges  in  the  arts  world,  the  Community  intends  to 
promote  the  "European  City  of  Culture".  The  Community  is  therefore  organising  this 
initiative on the following terms: 

1. 

Each year, a city will be chosen to be "European City of Culture", in accordance 
with the objectives laid out in Article 1. 

In order to be considered, cities must submit an application presenting a European 
cultural  project  based  on  a  specific  European  theme.  It  may  be  organised  in 
association  with  other  cities  and  must  be  based  principally  on  cultural 
cooperation,  in  accordance  with  the  objectives  and  measures  provided  for  by 
Article 128 of the EC Treaty. 

The city's plans must comprise specific measures satisfying the following criteria: 

-  promotion of shared artistic movements  and styles in the development  of  which 

the city has played a particular role; 

-  organisation  of  artistic  events  (music,  dance,  theatre,  visual  arts,  cinema,  etc.) 
highlighting  the  city's  own  culture  and  involving  people  involved  in  cultural 
activities from other  cities  in  the  Member  States  of  the  Union,  with  a  view  to 
establishing lasting cooperation; 

-  promotion of  European public  awareness  of  the  figures  and events  which  have 

marked the history and culture of the city; 

-  organisation  of  measures  to  increase  access  to  and  awareness  of  fixed  and 

movable artistic assets and artistic productions specific to the city; 

-  promotion of a cultural  heritage which, even if less well-known,  is  of  a quality 

worthy of a wider audience; 

-  organisation  of  specific  cultural  projects  designed  to bring  young  people  to the 

arts; 

-  organisation of specific cultural projects designed to increase social cohesion; 

-  taking  the  planned  activities  to  a  wider  public,  particularly  by  the  use  of 

multimedia and audiovisual means and a multilingual approach; 

-  organisation of initiatives concerning the promotion and management of the arts; 

¥ 

-  contribution  to  the  development  of  economic  activity, 'particularly  in  terms  of 

employment and tourism; 

-  need to develop high-quality and innovative cultural tourism (alternative forms  of 
tourism,  original  methods  for  managing  flows  of  tourists,  new  systems  of 
the 
partnership  between 
importance  in this connection  of managing  the cultural  heritage  on a  sustainable 
basis  and  reconciling  the  wishes  of  visitors  (reception,  guides,  information, 
accommodation) with those of the local population (respect for the quality  of life, 
the environment, etc.); 

the  parties  concerned)  with  due  allowance  for 

- 

joint  organisation  of  initiatives  designed  to  promote  dialogue  between  the 
cultures of Europe and the cultures of other parts of the world. 

2. 

Applications must be sent to the European Commission by the Member  States on 
in  the  Official  Journal  of  the  European 
an  application  form  published 

-  Communities. 

They  must present  the specific  European  theme on which  the city's  project  is  to 
be  based  and  must  contain  a  detailed  description  of  the  specific  measures  to  be 
organised  (see point  1 above)  with reference  to the criteria set down in Article 3. 
They must also give details of the financial contribution(s)  of the Member  States 
concerned and the results expected. 

Applications must be presented  by the Member  States three years before  the date 
envisaged  for  the  start  of  the  annual  event.  Decisions  on  the  choice  of  the 
"European City of Culture" will be taken in the year in which the applications are 
presented. 

Applications  must  contain  a  balanced  financing  plan  showing  the  resources 
needed for its realisation. 

3. 

4. 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(97) 549 final 

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ISBN  92-78-26242-0 

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