Recommendation for a Council Decision on the European Capital of Culture event for the year 2010
Date: 2006-10-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European cultural event, cultural policy

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 23.10.2006 
COM(2006) 610 final 

Recommendation for a  

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the European Capital of Culture event for the year 2010 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

Decision  1419/1999/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  of  25  May  1999 
establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2005 
to 2019, amended by Decision 649/2005/EC1, lays down the procedure of designation of the 
European Capital of Culture from 2005 and onwards. According to Article 2 of this Decision, 
from  2009  onwards,  two  cities  of  two  Member  States  (one  from  the  EUR-15,  one  from  the 
new Member States) will be designated as European Capitals of Culture, in turn, according to 
the chronological order set out in Annex I to the Decision.  

The nominations are notified to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and 
the Committee of the Regions by the Member States concerned no later than four years before 
the event in question is due to begin.  

Moreover, according to Article 4, “European non member states countries may participate in 
this  action.  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”. 

Each year, the Commission forms a selection panel which issues a report on the nominations 
judged  against  the  objectives  and  characteristics  of  this  action.  The  selection  panel  is 
composed of leading independent figures who are experts on the cultural sector. The selection 
panel submits its report to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council.  

The European Parliament may forward an opinion to the Commission on the nominations no 
later than 3 months after receipt of the report.  

The Council, acting on a recommendation from the Commission drawn up in the light of the 
selection panel’s report, officially designates the cities in question for the year for which they 
have been nominated.  

In  accordance  with  article  2  and  Annex  I,  Germany  notified  the  nomination  of  Essen  and 
Görlitz and Hungary nominated Pécs for the 2010 title before the end of 2005.  

Concurrently, in accordance with Article 4, Turkey notified the nomination of Istanbul.  

The selection panel met on 14-15 March 2006 to examine all nominations. This examination 
included  hearings  of  representatives  from  all  the  candidate  cities.  The  panel  submitted  its 
report  to  the  Commission  on  11  April  2006  ;  at  the  request  of  the  panel,  the  Commission 
forwarded it to the other Institutions.  

On  the  basis  of  an  overall  evaluation  of  the  applications,  the  panel  agreed  unanimously  to 
recommend to the Institutions of the European Union that Essen, Pécs and Istanbul host the 
European Capitals of Culture in 2010. 

1 

OJ L 166 of 1.7.1999, p. 1 and OJ L 117 of 4.05.2005, p.20.. 

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The  Committee  on  Culture  and  Education  of  the  European  Parliament  forwarded  a  letter  to 
DG  EAC  on  18  July,  as  a  follow  up  to  the  panel’s  report  which  had  been  received,  to 
highlight the relevant aspects of the exchange of views it had on this matter.  

In  conclusion,  the  Commission,  in  accordance  with  Article  2,  paragraph  3  of  Decision 
1419/1999/EC  modified  by  Decision  649/2005/EC  submits  to  the  Council  the  appended 
recommendation for the official designation of Essen, Pécs and Istanbul respectively for the 
2010 European Capital of Culture event. 

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Recommendation for a  

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the European Capital of Culture event for the year 2010 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 

Having  regard  to  Decision  n°  1419/1999/EC  modified  by  Decision  n°  649/2005/EC  of  the 
European  Parliament  and  the  Council  establishing  a  Community  action  for  the  European 
Capital of Culture event for the years 2005 to 20192, and in particular its articles 2.3 and 4, 

Having regard to the Selection Panel report of April 2006 submitted to the Commission, the 
European  Parliament,  the  Council  in  accordance  with  Article  2  paragraph  2  of  Decision 
1419/1999/EC modified by Decision 649/2005/EC, 

Considering that the criteria laid down in article 3 and annex II of the Decision 1419/1999/EC 
modified by Decision n° 649/2005/EC are entirely fulfilled, 

Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission of the ----------------- 2006,  

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

Essen  and  Pécs  are  designated  as  “European  Capital  of  Culture  2010”  in  accordance  with 
Article 2 paragraph 1 of Decision 1419/1999/EC modified by Decision 649/2005/EC. 

Istanbul is designated as a “European Capital of Culture 2010” in accordance with Article 4 
of Decision 1419/1999/EC modified by Decision 649/2005/EC. 

Article 2 

2 

OJ L 166 of 1.7.1999, p. 1 and OJ L 117 of 4.05.2005, p.20. 

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Article 3 

All  cities  designated  shall  take  the  necessary  measures  in  order  to  ensure  the  effective 
implementation  of  Articles  1  and  5  of  Decision  1419/1999/EC  modified  by  Decision 
649/2005/EC. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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