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

PURPOSE: To amend the list that determines for each year from 2005 to 2019 the Member State eligible to nominate a city to host the Cultural Capital event for that year, out of the current Member States.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 649/2005 (EC) of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: The Council reached a political agreement on a draft European Parliament and Council Decision adapting Decision 1419/1999/EC3 on the European Capital of Culture event, in order to enable the participation of the EU's ten new Member States.

Decision 1419/1999/EC contains a chronological list that determines for each year, from 2005 to 2019, the Member State eligible to nominate a city to host the European Capital of Culture event.

The Decision completes the existing chronological order by adding for each year, from 2009 to 2019, one of the new Member States, under a new system with two Member States eligible each year. From 2009 onwards, one city of each of the Member States appearing on the list will be eligible for designation.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 24/05/2005.