CELEX: 51998PC0350
Language: en
Date: 1998-05-27
Title: Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision for the establishment of a Community action in favour of the 'European City of Culture' event

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                          Brussels, 27.05.1998
                                          COM(1998) 350 final
                                          97/0290 (COD)
Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision for the
 establishment of a Community action in favour of the "European City of
                               Culture" event.
      (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2)
                          of the EC-Treaty)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                  Explanatory Memorandum
                                 European City of Culture
   Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision for the
     establishment of a Community action in favour of the "European City of
                                      Culture" event.
1. On 30 October 1997, the Commission presented a proposal for a European
    Parliament and Council Decision for the establishment of a Community action in
    favour of the "European City of Culture" event (COM 97/549-97/0290 COD).
    On 30 April 1998, the European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution
    (A4/0083/98), in which they approve the Commission proposal, subject to certain
    amendments.1
    This modified proposal integrates those amendments which have been accepted by
    the Commission, during discussions with the Parliament. It is worth noting that
    the Commission has, in most cases, accepted the amendments, as suggested.
2. Of the amendments accepted, some are drafting changes, some add new elements
    to the proposal.
3. In a limited number of cases, the Commission was not able to include the
    amendments. These concern four main points: (the procedure for designating
    cities, the participation of certain third countries, the ending of the European
    Cultural Month and the total finance for the initiative), which were not able to be
    incorporated for the following reasons:
•   The procedure proposed by the Commission, while fully involving all of the
    Community institutions, was relatively flexible in order to allow for the decision
    to be made within a reasonable amount of time. A more laborious procedure, such
    as that envisaged by Article 189b would, from a purely practical point of view, not
    operate effectively and would hinder the functioning of the programme.
    Moreover, as the legal service of the European Parliament has confirmed, the
    Commission proposal is legally correct in the sense that "this is not a measure
    with any legislative function, but instead a decision implementing or applying a
    legislative act adopted under the co-decision procedure".
 •   The Commission proposal has taken into account the undertakings and
     agreements which bind the European Union as regards the participation of
     associated third countries in Community programmes. These agreements
     envisage that, as with other Community programmes, this initiative will be open
     to the countries of the European Economic Area, to the associated countries of
     central and eastern Europe, to Cyprus and to other European third countries which
  Oral hearing N°268301, page 16
                                          L
 ---pagebreak---    central and eastern Europe, to Cyprus and to other European third countries which
   have concluded co-operation agreements with the European Union containing a
   cultural clause.
• The Commission planned to bring to an end the European Cultural Month
  because, firstly it did not wish to continue an initiative which, due to its limited
  duration has not had significant impact and secondly, and most importantly,
  because the "European City of Culture" was to be opened to the EEA and CEE
  countries.
a The total financing for the "European City of Culture" is envisaged in the
  Commission proposal for the establishment of a "Cultural Framework
  Programme", of which this initiative will be an integral part.
                                    1
 ---pagebreak--- European Parliament amendments contained in the Commission modified proposal
1-2-3-4-5-6-11
Amendments accepted in part
9
Amendments not accepted
7-8-10-12-13-14
 ---pagebreak---                jBttf|f|^'P^fiamettt;and           Ame»                for a'Etffojsëan
                                                  •ParJ$f?|                  feeîsîim
                  *i ^ ^  ->"
               Proposal for a                               Proposal for a
   EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND                      EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
          COUNCIL DECISION                             COUNCIL DECISION
    establishing a Community initiative          establishing a Community initiative
                         for                                      for
   "The European City of Culture" event         "The European City of Culture" event
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
  THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN
                     UNION                   UNION
Having regard to the Treaty establishing     Having regard to the Treaty establishing
the European Community, and in               the European Community, and in
particular Article 128 thereof,              particular Article 128 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the       Having regard to the proposal from the
Commission,                                  Commission,
Having regard to the Opinion of the          Having regard to the Opinion of the
Committee of the Regions,                    Committee of the Regions,
Acting in accordance with the procedure      Acting in accordance with the procedure
laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty,     laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty,
1/       Whereas Europe has, throughout      1/       Whereas Europe has, throughout
its history, been the site of exceptionally  its history, been the site of exceptionally
prolific and varied artistic activity;       prolific and varied artistic activity;
whereas urban life has played a major        whereas urban life has played a major
role in the growth and influence of the      role in the growth and influence of the
European cultures;                           European cultures;
2/       Whereas the EC Treaty gives the     2/       Whereas the EC Treaty gives the
Community competence in the cultural         Community competence in the cultural
field     (Article 128);      whereas    all field     (Article 128);     whereas      all
Community activity designed to promote       Community activity designed to promote
the arts should therefore be placed on the   the arts should therefore be placed on the
new legal basis, in accordance with the      new legal basis, in accordance with the
objectives and means assigned to the         objectives and means assigned to the
Community by the Treaty;                     Community by the Treaty;
3/       Whereas, on 13 June 1985, the       3/       Whereas, on 13 June 1985, the
Ministers responsible for cultural affairs   Ministers responsible for cultural affairs
meeting within the Council adopted a         meeting within the Council adopted a
resolution     concerning      the    annual resolution     concerning      the     annual
 ---pagebreak--- organisation of the "European City of organisation of the "European City of
Culture", the main aim of which was to Culture", the main aim of which was to
make certain cultural aspects of the city, make certain cultural aspects of the city,
region or country in question accessible region or country in question accessible
to the European public, an event for to the European public, an event for
which the European Community has which the European Community has
provided financial support;                provided financial support;
4/       Whereas Parliament,      in the   4/       Whereas Parliament, in the
discussions leading up to its opinion of   discussions leading up to its opinion of
7 April 1995     on   the   Kaleidoscope   7 April 1995       on   the    Kaleidoscope
programme, 1 asked the Commission to       programme, asked the Commission to
present a specific programme on the        present a specific programme on the
European City of Culture after the year    European City of Culture after the year
2000 on the basis of Article 128 of the    2000 on the basis of Article 128 of the
EC Treaty;                                 EC Treaty;
5/       Whereas     any      Community    5/       Whereas       any      Community
initiative to promote the "European City   initiative to promote the "European City
of Culture" must satisfy predefined        of Culture" must satisfy predefined
objectives and use the resources provided  objectives and use the resources provided
for by the Treaty in accordance with       for by the Treaty in accordance with
Article 128;                               Article 128;
                                           5/a.     Whereas the study which has been
                                           carried out of the results achieved by
                                           1{uropean Cities of Culture shows that the
                                           event has a positive impact in terms of
                                           media resonance, cultural and tourist
                                           development and the realization by
                                           i 11habitants of the importance of their city
                                           having been chosen;
                                           5/h. Whereas the positive effects have
                                           nonetheless not always produced results
                                            lasting beyond the duration of the project
                                            itself and whereas the attention of public
                                           decision-makers in the cities chosen
                                            should be drawn to the need to integrate
                                           the cultural project into a dynamic
                                            medium-term process
                                            5/c.       Having regard to the dual
                                            i!nportance of this initiative both for
                                            strengthening local identity and for
                                            I {uropean integration;
                                            >/(!.   Whereas this initiative may be of
                                          €
 ---pagebreak---                                              particular importance for medium-sized
                                             cities;
6/Whereas, in compliance with the 6/Whereas, in compliance with the
principles for action laid down by principles for action laid down by Article
Article 128, a "European City of Culture" 128, a European City of Culture is to be
is to be selected each year to organise a selected each year to organise a cultural
cultural project on a specific, European project of such a nature as to lend
theme, possibly in association with other effective support to cultural creativity on
European cities;                             a theme based on its own identity,
                                             specific characteristics, history and
                                             future, supported by its own living
                                             economic, social and cultural forces and
                                             geared to the desire to contribute to
                                             European cultural development in all its
                                             diversity;
                                             6/a.    Whereas the project should be
                                             developed in association with other
                                             European      cities,    since    such     an
                                             arrangement is likely to be beneficial;
                                             whereas the city which submits an
                                             application    must,      for   reasons    of
                                             consistency, assume responsibility for
                                             programming vis-à-vis the European
                                             authorities and the partner cities;
7/      Whereas the "European Cultural       7/Whereas the "European              Cultural
Month" event should be discontinued;         Month" event should be discontinued;
8/      Whereas the Community has in 8/Whereas the Community has in the past
the past made a contribution, to the made a contribution to the "European
"European City of Culture" and the City of Culture" and the "European
"European Cultural Month" events under Cultural Month" events under the
the Kaleidoscope Programme, which is Kaleidoscope Programme, which is due
due to expire in 1998;2                      to expire in 1998;2
9/      Whereas the Council adopted a 9/Whereas the Council adopted a
Decision on 30 June 1997 calling on the Decision on 30 June 1997 calling on the
Commission,        in     accordance    with Commission,        in     accordance     with
Article 152 of the EC Treaty, to conduct Article 152 of the EC Treaty, to conduct
 a study prior to presenting proposals for a a study prior to presenting proposals for a
 single programme for culture by single programme for culture by
 May 1998, into which an Action May 1998, into which an Action
 "European City of Culture" will be "European City of Culture" will be
 incorporated,        including      funding incorporated,         including       funding
 arrangements,                               arrangements,
                                          ^
 ---pagebreak--- HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:                 HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                  Article 1                                   Article 1
The Community shall organise a              The Community shall organise a
promotional initiative entitled "European   promotional initiative entitled "European
City of Culture". The purpose shall be to   City of Culture". The purpose shall be to
highlight the richness and diversity of     highlight the richness and diversity of
European cultures, and the features they    European cultures, and the features they
share, and promote greater mutual           share, and promote greater mutual
acquaintance between Union citizens.        acquaintance between Union citizens.
                  Article 2                                   Article 2
From 2002, the "European City of From 2002, the "European City of
Culture" shall be chosen in accordance Culture" shall be chosen in accordance
with the following procedure:               with the following procedure:
- three years before the event is due to - three years before the event is due to
   begin, the Member States concerned          begin, the Member States concerned
   shall submit to the Commission an           shall submit to the Commission an
   application for the town or towns, as       application for the town or towns, as
   described in Article 3, for the year in     described in Article 3, for the year in
   question;                                   question;
-   the Commission shall form a -               the Commission shall each year form
    Selection Panel which shall deliver its     a Selection Panel which shall deliver
    opinion on the applications, judged         its opinion on the applications, judged
    against      the     objectives    and      against      the     objectives     and
    characteristics of this Action. The         characteristics of this Action. The
    Selection Panel shall be composed of        Selection Panel shall be composed of
    seven leading independent figures of        seven leading independent figures
    whom two shall be appointed by              who are experts on and are from the
    Parliament, two by the Council, two         cultural sector, of whom two shall be
    by the Commission and one by the            appointed by Parliament, two by the
    Committee of the Regions. The               Council, two by the Commission and
    Selection Panel shall present its           one by the Committee of the Regions.
    opinion to the Commission;                  Membership of the Selection Panel
                                                 shall be incompatible with the
                                                exercise of any public elective office.
                                                 The Selection Panel shall elect a
 ---pagebreak---                                                 chairman from amon% its rnambera
                                                The Sctectkm Panel shtill present its
                                                t)f>fnkm k) I he ( '(MIHIHSSHH».
    on a arapaaaf n w * là» Cowrowwion -        on a proposal from the Commiaakm
    anal after It* European Parliament IKLS     and after the European Parliament has
    ••an comufcad, tha Council, acting by       been consulted, the Council, acting by
    quaJifiad majority, shall designate the     qualified majority, shall designate the
    'Euroatan CHy of Culture' for the           'European City of Culture' fer the
    yaar in                                     year in question
                                                               ArtfclaS
Tha application muat present it cultural The application must present a cultural
project focusing on a specif*; European project focusing on a specific European
theme and baaed principally on cultural tliemc and based principally on cultural
cooperation, in accordance with the cooperation, in accordance with the
objectives and measures provided lor by objectives and measures provided for by
Article 128 of the EC Treaty. The project Article 128 of the EC Treaty. The project
may be organised in association with may be organised in association with
other European cities.                      other European cities, to be chosen by the
                                            proposing city, which shall lead the
                                            project throughout.
The application must specify how, within     The application must specify how, within
the scope allowed by the theme, the         the scope allowed by the theme, the
applicant city intends:                     applicant city intends:
- to highlight artistic movements and       - to highlight artistic movements and
styles shared by Europeans which it has     styles shared by Europeans which it has
inspired or to which it has made a          inspired or to which it has made a
significant contribution;                   significant contribution;
- to promote cultural events and works      - to promote events involving people
involving people active in culture from     active in culture from other cities in
other cities in Member States of the        Member States of the Union and leading
Union and leading to lasting cultural       to lasting cultural cooperation, and to
cooperation;                                facilitate their movement within the
                                            I{uropean Union;
                                            - to support and develop creative work,
                                            which is an essential element in any
                                            cultural policy;
                                            - to ensure the mobilization and
                                            participate>n of large sect ions of the
                                            population and, as a consequence, the
                                            social impact of the Action and its
                                            continuity beyond the year of the
                                            festivities:
- to receive citizens of the Union and      - to encourage the reception of citizens of
reach as wide an audience as possible for   the Union and the widest possible
the various events by employing a           dissemination of the various events by
multimedia, multilingual approach; and      employing all forms of multimedia,
                                          3
 ---pagebreak---                                            particularly audiovisual media,          by
                                           creating an Internet site and by means of
                                           a multilingual approach, in order that as
                                           wide a public as possible in the city, the
                                           Union as a whole and beyond can
                                           participate in the cultural programmes
                                           ; i nd there by promote the initiation of
                                           lasting cultural cooperation projects;
- to promote dialogue between European - to promote dialogue between European
cultures and those from other parts of the cultures and those from other parts of the
world.                                     world and, in that spirit, to optimize the
                                           opening up to, and understanding of,
                                           others, which are fundamental cultural
                                           values;
                                           - to optimi/.e the historic heritage, urban
                                           design and the quality of urban life,
                                           which are indissociable from the cultural
                                           dimension of cities, and, in particular,
                                           highlight the relationship between using
                                           the existing heritage and contemporary
                                           creative work.
                 Article 4                                   A Hide 4
The countries of the European Economic     The countries of the European Economic
Area, the associated countries of central  Area, the associated countries of central
and eastern Europe, Cyprus and European    and eastern Europe, Cyprus and European
third countries which have concluded       third countries which have concluded
cooperation     agreements    with     the cooperation      agreements     with    the
Community containing a cultural clause     Community containing a cultural clause
shall be allowed to participate in this    shall be allowed to participate in this
initiative.                                initiative.
                 Article 5                                   Article 5
The Commission shall be responsible for The Commission shall be responsible for
the implementation of this intiative Each the implementation of this intiative Each
year it shall produce a report evaluating year it shall produce a report evaluating
the results of the previous year's event. the results of the previous year's event.
This report shall be presented to This report shall be presented to
Parliament,    the Council      and    the Parliament,     the Council       and   the
Committee of the Regions.                  Committee of the Regions.
 ---pagebreak---                    Article 6                                           Article 6
This initiative, containing detailed                 This initiative, containing detailed
information on procedure and closing                 information on procedure and closing
dates for submission of applications, shall          dates for submission of applications, shall
be published each year in the C Scries of            be published each year in the C Series of
the Official Journal of the European                 the Official Journal of the European
Communities.                                         ( Communities.
                   Article 7                                           Article 7
This Decision shall enter into force on This Decision shall enter into force on
        See report by Mr Augias PE 211.116/1 m of 27 Msirch 1995;
        Amended Commission proposal COM(95) 37"? final of 28 July 1095;
        Decision 719/96 of 29 March 19% (rccilal 11 ) establishing a programme to support artistic
        and cultural activities having a European dimension (Kaleidoscope).
        See European Parliament and Council Decision 719/96 of 29 March 1996 establishing the
        Kaleidoscope Programme (Action 4).
                                                 /il
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                           COM(98) 350 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                16 13 14
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-360-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-78-36916-0
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg