Union action for the European capitals of culture for the years 2020 to 2033: inclusion of EFTA/EEA countries

PURPOSE: to amend Decision No 445/2014/EU establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2017/1545 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 445/2014/EU establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033.

CONTENT: Decision 445/2014/EU sets out the framework for selection, designation and monitoring of the cities to be awarded the title of European Capitals of Culture from 2020. European Capitals of Culture make a crucial contribution to promoting the values of the Union.

The European Capitals of Culture initiative aims to:

• promote the richness and the diversity of cultures in Europe and at highlighting the common features they share while increasing citizens' sense of belonging to a common cultural area, thus encouraging mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue, and bringing common cultural heritage to the fore.
• foster the contribution of culture to the long-term development of cities, which can involve their surrounding areas, in accordance with their respective strategies and priorities, with a view to supporting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Currently, the action applies to the candidate or potential candidate countries for accession to the European Union, provided that they participate in the ‘Creative Europe’ programme or in subsequent Union programmes at the date of publication of the call for applications.

The objective of amending Decision 2017/1545 is to allow access to the action to the countries of the European Free Trade Association which are parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EFTA / EEA countries), namely Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The Decision provides that:

• cities in EFTA/EEA countries, in candidate countries and in potential candidates which participate in the Creative Europe Programme or in the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture at the date of publication of the call for submission of applications, may apply for the title for one year in the framework of an open competition organised in accordance with the calendar set out in the Annex;
• cities in EFTA/EEA countries, in candidate countries and in potential candidates shall only be allowed to participate in one competition during the period from 2020 to 2033;
• each EFTA/EEA country, candidate country or potential candidate shall only be allowed to host the title once during the period from 2020 to 2033.

As the calls for submission of applications need to be published at the latest 6 years before the year of the title, a candidate country, potential candidate or EFTA/EEA country should host the European Capital of Culture in 2028 instead of 2027 so as to allow those countries to negotiate their participation in the Union programme supporting culture subsequent to the Creative Europe Programme for the period 2021 to 2027.

Networking activities should be further encouraged between past, present and future cities holding the title of European Capital of Culture in order to foster the exchange of experiences and good practices.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 5.10.2017.