European Capital of Culture for the years 2005 to 2019: participation of the new Member States

The European Parliament adopted by 309 votes for, 132 against and 35 abstentions, the report by Michel ROCARD (PES, F) on amending Decision 1419/1999/EC establishing a Community action for the 'European Capital of Culture' event for the years 2005 to 2019. The Parliament accepts the recommendations made by its committee responsible as well as additional amendments concerning the following issues : - account should be taken of the of the financial consequences of this decision in such a way as to ensure that there is adequate and appropriate European Community funding for the designation of two 'European Capitals of Culture'; - from 2010 onwards, the Commission shall each year from a selection panel which shall issue a issue a report on the nominations judged against the periods, objectives and characteristics of this action. The selection panel shall be composed of 7 leading independent figures who are experts on the cultural sector, of whom 2 shall be appointed by the European Parliament, 2 by the Council, 2 by the Commission and 1 by the Committee of the Regions. In each case, the selection panel shall check the quality of the nomination, the European dimension of the programme and the viability of the structures for implementation of the proposed project. The selection panel shall submit its report to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council; - the Council, acting on a recommendation from the Commission, shall officially designate the city in question as 'European Capital of Culture' for the year for which it has been nominated. From 2009 onwards, the European Parliament may forward an opinion to the Commission on the nominations not later than three months after receipt of the report. The Council, acting on a recommendation from the Commission drawn up in the light of the opinion of the European Parliament and of the selection panel's report, shall officially designate the cities in question as 'European Capital of Culture' for the year for which they have been nominated; - each year the Commission shall produce a report evaluating the results of the previous year's event, including an analysis by the organisers of the latter. This report shall be presented to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions. The Commission shall also in good time make any proposals for revision of this Decision which it judges necessary for the smooth operation of this action and, in particular, with a view to the future enlargement of the European Union.�