WRITTEN QUESTION E-2214/02 by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. European Capitals of Culture — new selection procedure.
Date: 2002-07-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European cultural event, accession to the European Union, cultural policy

C 309 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

(2002/C 309 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2214/02

by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 July 2002)

Subject: European Capitals of Culture (cid:1) new selection procedure

According to an announcement on the new selection procedure for the European Capitals of Culture, the
order in which Member States will hold the event has already been decided for the period 2005-2019
(Ireland in 2005, Greece in 2006, Luxembourg in 2007, United Kingdom in 2008, etc.). In view of the
European Union’s forthcoming enlargement to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, can
the Commission state why not a single applicant country was considered? Would not such a decision by
the Commission have constituted a positive signal, one which would take into account the cultural
contribution which may be expected from the new Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2002)

The system for designating the European Capital of Culture and the list of Member States, indicating the
order in which they will hold the event, are set out in Decision 1419/1999/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 25 May 1999 establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture
event for the years 2005 to 2019 (1).

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member on the subject of candidate country participation. In
fact, in its initial proposal (2), it specifically stated that the associated countries of Central and Eastern
Europe, Cyprus, third countries which had concluded Cooperation Agreements containing a cultural clause
and the countries of the European Economic Area would be allowed to participate in this initiative.

It is nevertheless important to note that Article 4 of the Decision provides for participation of third
countries in the initiative and sets out the procedure clearly. This Article stipulates that European non-
member countries may participate in the Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for
the years 2005 to 2019. Any such country may nominate one city as a European Capital of Culture and
should notify its nomination to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Committee
of the Regions. The Council, acting unanimously on a recommendation from the Commission, shall
officially designate one of these nominated cities as a European Capital of Culture for each year.

(1) OJ L 166, 1.7.1999.
(2) OJ C 362, 28.11.1997.

(2002/C 309 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2218/02

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 July 2002)

Subject: Implementation of Directive 1999/13/EC on solvent emissions

Can the Commission indicate the current record of each Member State in implementing Directive
1999/13/EC (1) on solvent emissions?

Can the Commission indicate how the website which has been set up to facilitate implementation of the
Directive is to be promoted and maintained and whether it could be a useful precedent for assisting
implementation of other environmental directives?

(1) OJ L 85, 29.3.1999, p. 1.