Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019
Date: 2005-11-17
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU financing, European cultural event, cultural cooperation, cultural policy

C 115/56

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

16.5.2006

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parlia-
ment and of the Council establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture
event for the years 2007 to 2019

(2006/C 115/12)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

Having regard to the Proposal from the European Commission for a Decision of the European Parliament
and of the Council establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007
to 2019 COM(2005) 209 final — 2005/102 (COD);

Having regard to the decision of the European Commission of 30 May 2005 to consult it on this subject,
under the first paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to the decision of its President of 25 July 2005 to instruct its Commission for Culture and
Education to draw up an opinion on this subject;

Having regard to its opinion on the Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing
a Community initiative for The European Capital of Culture event (CdR 448/97 fin) (1);

Having regard to its opinion on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and Council
amending Decision 1419/1999/EC establishing a Community action for the ‘European Capital of Culture’ event for
the years 2005 to 2019 (CdR 393/2003fin) (2);

Having regard to its opinion on Culture and cultural differences and their significance for the future of
Europe (CdR 447/97 fin) (3);

Having regard to the opinion of the Commission for Culture and Education, adopted on 22 September
2005 (CdR 251/2005 rev. 1) (rapporteur: Mr Seamus Murray, Member of Meath County Council and the
Mid-East Regional Authority (IE/UEN-EA));

unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 62nd plenary session, held on 16-17 November
2005 (meeting of 17 November):

1. The Committee of the Regions' views

On the European Capital of Culture (ECOC)

The Committee of the Regions

development strategy and feels that it is important that the
ECOC promote more sustainable approaches to cultural devel-
opment. Furthermore, the Committee recognises that the ECOC
is increasingly adopting a regional dimension, with cities invol-
ving their surrounding areas in the development and imple-
mentation of their cultural programmes;

regards the ECOC as a powerful

1.1
tool to showcase,
support, enrich and experience European and local cultures and
appreciates that ECOC designation has very positive impacts
for cities, not just in the cultural sector, but in providing
economic and employment opportunities
in the tourism,
leisure and sports sectors and in acting as a catalyst for city
regeneration;

considers that the value and potential of the ECOC has
1.3
been underestimated, primarily as a result of low levels of EU
financial assistance, a lack of focus on developing the European
dimension of the ECOC and developing visibility for cities and
an absence of support in helping cities to prepare and imple-
ment their cultural programmes;

1.2
recognises that the impact of the ECOC can be greater
when the event is an integral part of a city's long-term cultural

(1) OJ C 180, 11.6.1998, p. 70.
(2) OJ C 121, 30.4.2004, p. 15.
(3) OJ C 180, 11.6.1998, p. 63.

1.4
considers that in the past the European Union has
missed an opportunity to exploit the ECOC initiative to help
promote European integration and identity, bearing in mind
the ECOC's high visibility and broad awareness. The Committee
feels that the ECOC can help citizens identify favourably with
the European Union.

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On the Proposed Selection and Monitoring Procedures

The Committee of the Regions

1.5 welcomes the proposal from the European Commission
to reform the selection procedure for the ECOC and to provide
a monitoring process for designated cities during the prepara-
tions of their cultural programmes;

that

considers

1.6
from the European
the proposal
Commission addresses many of the weaknesses of the current
selection process and accepts that
the proposed approach
represents a good balance between the need: to have a genuine
element of competition between cities; to enhance the role of
the selection panel; to have greater emphasis on the European
dimension of the ECOC; and to recognise the input of the
Member States and the role of the Council in the nomination
and designation process;

1.7 welcomes and supports the following aspects of the
proposed selection and monitoring procedure:

— the earlier designation of the ECOC and the extension of
the lead-in time for the cities to prepare their cultural
programmes;

— the greater clarity provided to cities by grouping the
cultural programme criteria into the ‘European dimension’
and the ‘city and citizens’ and providing objectives for each;

— the greater transparency of the selection process and the
emphasis given to the European added-value in the process;

— the introduction of an element of competition as an incen-
tive and inspiration to the designated cities to raise quality
and artistic elements of their cultural programmes;

— the regular contact between the designated cities and the
Monitoring Panel in an effort to monitor progress, provide
guidance and address potential problems at
the earliest
stage in the preparation phase;

1.8
asks the European Commission to fully consider the
central role cities will play during the selection and monitoring
process and in this regard feels that the proposal, as currently
drafted,
is both ambiguous and prescriptive and provides
uncertainty for cities wishing to host the ECOC;

has some reservations about the following aspects of the

1.9
proposed selection and monitoring procedure:

— the potential burden placed on designated cities in terms of
delivering mid-term, monitoring and evaluation reports.
This may be disproportionate in comparison to the very
limited EU financial contribution to the overall budgets of
cities for ECOC and in particular a problem for smaller
cities wishing to host the ECOC;

— based on past experience,

the ability of the Monitoring
Panel to provide the cities with expert support on preparing
their programmes and practical
‘hands-on’ experience in
implementing the ECOC;

— the potential for delay that still exists in the new designa-
tion process, especially between the nomination of a city by
the Member State and the designation decision by the
Council;

considers that

1.10
further clarification is required on
some aspects of the proposed selection and monitoring proce-
dure, in particular:

— the definition of ‘independent experts’ to be appointed to
the selection and monitoring panels by the European Insti-
tutions and the implications this may have for the Institu-
tions when making their nominations.

— the procedure for awarding the prize (as outlined in Article
11), to the designated cities that meet the criteria and the
recommendations of the panels;

1.11
supports the composition of the Selection Panel (as set
out in Article 5), with 13 members, seven from the EU Institu-
tions and six nominated by the Member States concerned.
However, requests that Member States include one nominee
from the relevant national association representing local and/or
urban government;

1.12 welcomes the criteria to have linkages between the
programmes of the two designated cities, as it advocated in its
previous opinion (CdR 393/2003 fin) and feels that the Moni-
toring Panel has a key role to play in ensuring that these syner-
gies are developed in the programme preparation phase;

1.13
emphasises that all Member States are treated as equal
in the ECOC initiative, regardless of the date of their accession.
The Committee is disappointed that the European Commission
has again made no provision for further enlargements of the
Union and asks the European Commission to clarify the situa-
tion for countries currently negotiating their membership.

On Financing and Assisting the European Capitals of Culture

The Committee of the Regions

the proposal

1.14 welcomes
in the Culture 2007
programme providing for a tripling of the Community contri-
bution to each Capital of Culture as compared to the current
programme, as it believes that this will maximise the visibility
of the EU's involvement, match the renewed emphasis on the
European dimension of the cultural programmes of the cities
and help to better meet the expectation of the designated cities;

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1.15
cautions against any reduction in the budget for the
European Capital of Culture, within the Culture 2007
programme,
in the on-going negotiations on the Financial
Perspectives 2007-2013;

1.22
therefore, considers that the proposal on the future
involvement of third countries should have been developed in
conjunction with the current proposal on the ECOC, with a
view to the designation processes happening at the same time
for the ECOC and the ‘cultural month’ initiative.

1.16
feels that the Commission needs to immediately clarify
its proposal on how it wishes to financially support designated
cities through a ‘prize’ and to explain the potential benefits
such a procedure gives to designated cities over current prac-
tice. Furthermore, the Committee would ask the Commission
to use a term other than ‘prize’ for providing such assistance,
as a prize suggests a reward or honour for winning a contest as
opposed to a payment for fulfilling certain programme criteria;

is concerned by the long delays often experienced by
1.17
cities in the processing of payments by the European Commis-
sion to the Capitals of Culture, where cities may not receive a
significant amount of funds until after the year of designation
has been completed;

1.18 would welcome further proposals on other ways in
which the European Commission could support and assist the
designated cities in preparing and implementing their cultural
programmes;

1.19
furthermore would welcome support from the Euro-
pean Commission for cities, after their designated year has
ended, to ensure that the impacts of the ECOC are sustained
over a longer time period and that there is a cultural legacy in
the city. The Monitoring Panel could play a role here in
ensuring that the sustainability of action in the cultural sector
is built into cities' programmes, but EU financial assistance
would help deliver this.

On the Involvement of Third Countries

The Committee of the Regions

supports the Commission's general proposal regarding
1.20
the inclusion of
third countries in the ECOC through the
resumption of the ‘cultural month’ initiative, rather than having
an additional ECOC from a third country. The Committee
would however like clarification on how the ‘cultural month’
initiative would be financially supported at the EU level;

considers that there must be synergies between the
1.21
designated ECOC and the (at
two) cities hosting the
least
‘cultural month’ initiative, with such links focusing mainly on
cross-border and inter-regional cultural cooperation. These
actions and the linkages with the ‘cultural month’ should be a
central element of
the ECOC cultural programmes, as the
Committee considers that such an approach would enhance the
European dimension of the ECOC;

On the Involvement of the Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions

1.23
remains strongly committed to being involved in the
ECOC action and is willing to continue to be an active member
in the selection and monitoring process proposed by the Euro-
pean Commission;

1.24 would like the wording on the nomination of
members to the selection panel (as set out in Article 5) clarified,
to ensure that one of its elected members continues to repre-
sent the Committee in the designation process. The Committee
would also like to continue the practice of nominating an ad-
personam alternate, in order to maintain its active involvement
in the event of inability of its representative on the panel to
attend meetings.

2. The Committee of the Regions' recommendations

On the Selection and Monitoring Procedure

The Committee of the Regions

2.1
recommends that cities use the ECOC as part of a long-
term cultural development strategy in order to promote more
sustainable approaches to cultural development and enhance
the impact and legacy of the ECOC in cities;

asks the European Parliament, Council and European
2.2
Commission to keep potential delays between the nomination
of the cities by the Member States and the designation by the
Council to a minimum, in order to give cities the maximum
time for programme preparation;

2.3
requests that Member States include one nominee from
the relevant national association representing local and/or
urban government, as a member of its six nominees to the
ECOC selection panel.

On Assistance to the European Capitals of Culture

The Committee of the Regions

asks the European Commission to reduce the adminis-
2.4
trative burden placed on designated cities during the prepara-
tion process, with the implementation of the new monitoring
arrangements;

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C 115/59

2.5
requests that the designated cities are informed, well in
advance of the implementation of their programme, of the
amount of EU financial assistance they will receive in order to
assist the planning process. The Committee is encouraged by
the intention of the European Commission to award the ‘prize’
to the cities, that meet the criteria, six months in advance of
the year of designation commencing but would like further
information on how and under what conditions the ‘prize’
would be awarded;

2.6
demands that the European Commission immediately
streamlines procedures for the application of funds and speeds
up the processing of payment of these funds to the Capitals of
Culture;

2.7
requests that the European Commission, as part of the
monitoring process, enables designated cities to have ready
access to practical experience and expertise by supporting the
provision of a mentoring service. This service should be
responsive and tailored to cities' needs and should be additional
to any information provided to cities via the Commission's
website and could be delivered either by:

a) making available to cities a directory of mentors, such as
that have

directors and technical experts
previously hosted Capital of Culture programmes; or

from cities

a) direct assistance to cities in marketing activities, the wider
distribution of promotional materials and giving greater visi-
bility to the ECOC;

b) preparing guidance on how cities can meet the extensive

evaluation and monitoring requirements;

2.9
requests the European Commission to provide some
financial and other supports to cities, after their designated year
has ended,
the ECOC are
sustained over a longer time period and that there is a cultural
legacy in the city;

the impacts of

to ensure that

On Wider Involvement in the European Capitals of Culture

The Committee of the Regions

2.10
asks the European Commission to clarify, without
delay, the provisions in the ECOC for further enlargements of
the Union;

2.11
recommends that two cities from third countries host
the ‘cultural month’ initiative and that these cities be designated
in order to allow synergies
at the same time as the ECOC,
develop between them at an early stage in preparations and to
enhance the European dimension of
the ECOC cultural
programmes.

b) re-invigorating the Network of European Capitals of Culture
and Cultural Months, to facilitate this exchange of experi-
ence and act as a support service to newly designated cities;

On the Involvement of the Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions

asks the European Commission to make further propo-
2.8
sals on other ways in which it could support and assist the
designated cities in preparing and implementing their cultural
programmes, in particular through:

underlines that

2.12
its representative on the Selection
Panel must continue to be one of its elected members, as has
been standard practice in the past, and to facilitate internal
coordination, requests that this representative be appointed for
two years, rather than three years.

Recommendation 1

Article 5(3)

Text proposed by the Commission

CoR Amendment

Two Panel members shall be appointed by the European
Parliament, two by the Council, two by the Commission
and one by the Committee of the Regions.

Two Panel members shall be appointed by the European
Parliament, two by the Council, two by the Commission
and one by the Committee of the Regions.

These selection panel members
shall be independent
experts with no conflict of interest and with substantial
experience and expertise in the cultural sector, in cultural
development of cities or in organization of European
Capital of Culture.

These selection panel members shall be leading indepen-
dent figures experts with no conflict of interest and with
substantial experience and expertise in the cultural sector,
in cultural development of cities or in organization of
European Capital of Culture.

this Decision is in force,

By way of derogation to the first subparagraph in the first
shall be
year
appointed by the Commission for one year, two by the
European Parliament for two years, two by the Council for
three years and one by the Committee of the Regions for
three years.

two experts

By way of derogation to the first subparagraph in the first
year this Decision is in force, two members experts shall
be appointed by the Commission for one year, two by the
European Parliament for two years, two by the Council for
three years and one by the Committee of the Regions for
two three years.

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2.13
asks that the proposal for a Decision would confirm the role of the Committee of the Regions in
the Monitoring Panel and that this panel would be tasked with and play an active role in ensuring that the
synergies between the cultural programmes of the designated cities are developed in the programme
preparation phase.

Recommendation 2

Article 9(2)

Text proposed by the Commission

CoR Amendment

No later than 24 months before the event is due to begin,
the Commission shall convene the seven experts nomi-
nated by the European Parliament,
the
Commission and the authorities responsible for the imple-
mentation of the programmes of the cities designated as
European Capitals of Culture.

the Council,

From this stage these experts form a 'monitoring panel'.

They shall meet to evaluate the preparation of the event,
particularly concerning the European added value of the
programmes.

Brussels, 17 November 2005.

No later than 24 months before the event is due to begin,
the Commission shall convene the seven members experts
nominated by the European Parliament, the Council, the
Commission, the Committee of the Regions and the autho-
the
the
rities
programmes of the cities designated as European Capitals
of Culture.

implementation

responsible

for

of

From this stage these members will experts form a 'moni-
toring panel'.

They shall meet to evaluate the preparation of the event,
particularly concerning the European added value and the
synergies between the two cities' of the programmes.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Peter STRAUB