Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2005)209 - Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019 - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2005)209 - Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019. |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2005)209  |
| date | 30-05-2005 |
The European City of Culture was launched by the Council of Ministers on 13 June 1985. Until 2004, the European Cities of Culture had been selected on an intergovernmental basis whereby Member States unanimously selected cities worthy of hosting the event.
Decision 1419/1999/EC i, adopted on the basis of Article 151 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, amended the procedure for selecting the cities from 2005 onwards, known as “European Capitals of Culture” (ECOC). The ECOC is now decided by the Council on the basis of a Commission recommendation, which takes into account the view of a jury of seven independent members. The selection is based on criteria laid down in the above Decision. This Decision includes a list of EUR-15 Member States (Annex 1) setting out the chronological of entitlement from 2005 to 2019 i.
The ten new Member States, which joined the EU on 1 May 2004, were not included in this list. The Commission, therefore, submitted a proposal to amend Decision 1419/1999/CE in November 2003 to enable the new Member States to propose an ECOC from 2009. This proposal was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 13 April 2005. As a result, from 2009 onwards, there will be two European Capitals of Culture each year (one from the EUR-15, one from the new Member States).
Contents
- 2. NEED TO REVIEW THE CURRENT DECISION
- 2.1. Improvements required from the experience and consultation of the stakeholders
- 2.2. Outline of the proposal
- B) R ole of the selection panel
- E) Timing
- F) The participation of third countries
- G) Conclusion
- 3. FLANKING MEASURES
- 4. RESOURCES - DURATION OF THE VALIDITY OF THE DECISION
- 4. 1. Resources
- 4.2 Date of application (transitional period)
The Commission launched a study i (hereafter: ECOC study) which confirms that the ECOC action is generally viewed very positively by the general public. Nevertheless, the implementation of the designation process, as laid down in Decision 1419/1999, revealed a number of weaknesses, in particular with regard to:
- the competition between cities;
- the role of the selection panel;
- the question of monitoring
- the European dimension
- the question of timing
- the participation of third countries.
The assessment reports of the selection panels, the Committee for culture, youth, education, media and sports of the European Parliament in its report of the first reading of the modified decision, as well as the ECOC study confirmed these weaknesses. Accordingly, the present proposal, based on the various contributions, aims at replacing Decision 1419/1999 as amended on 13 April 2005. It also aims at improving, i.a. the transparency of the selection process and the definition of European added value.
A) Strengthening the competition element
Following careful consideration of various competition models, the Commission has:
- rejected the idea of a totally open competition , Europe wide, with any European city being able to be nominated. Such an approach would require, each year, considerable and disproportionate resources in the Commission, the selection panels and the Members States. It would also not guarantee rotation between Member States.
- ruled out a limited competition system which would impose a minimum of two proposals for each Member State; this system offered no guarantee of a stronger European dimension of ECOC events. Furthermore, all Member States might not be in a position to present a minimum of 2 proposals.
On this basis, the Commission has opted for a system which encourages Member States to organise competition at national level between interested cities.
The Commission proposes establishing a “mixed” selection panel consisting of 7 experts designated by the European Institutions, of which one taking the Chair, and 6 experts designated by the Member State concerned, in agreement with the Commission. The 7 experts should be appointed in turn for 3 years by the Council, the European Parliament, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions in accordance with the criteria laid down in Article 5 i of this proposal. The overall composition of the panel should ensure adequate balance between local and national interests and guarantee the “European” dimension ahead of the national selection decision.
The Member State concerned should launch a call for submission of applications 6 years before the event is due to begin, and organise an information day for potential candidates.
The selection panel should meet 5 years before the event to agree on a short-list of candidates. It should prepare a report on the candidates’ programmes and make recommendations to the candidates short-listed. The report should be submitted to the Member State concerned and the Commission.
The panel should meet 9 months after the first selection meeting in order to prepare a report on the programmes of the short-listed candidates, and, on that basis, recommend a city for nomination as ECOC. The report should also contain recommendations to the selected city. It should be submitted to the Member State concerned and to the Commission.
The Member State concerned should notify one nomination 4 years before the event is due to begin. The European Parliament may forward an opinion to the Commission within the following two months. On that basis, the Commission would make a Recommendation to the Council. The Council would then designate the city.
C) Monitoring by the “European monitoring panel”
The Commission proposes establishing a “European monitoring panel” (EMP) for the period after the designation of the ECOC until the start of the event. It would focus on the European dimension of the programme and contribute, wherever necessary, to ensuring the European added-value of the programme.
This European monitoring panel will be composed of only the 7 members of the selection panel designated, in turn as explained in 2.2.B, by the European Institutions. The EMP should provide cities with support and guidance in further elaborating their programme:
- Two years before the event is due to begin, the EMP should carry out a mid-term monitoring of the project and programme of the two cities on the state of the preparation as well as on the European dimension.
- Six months at the latest before the event, the EMP should meet again with the authorities of the designated ECOCs to take stock and assess the preparatory work done so far and the remaining steps to be taken. The EMP should then issue a final monitoring report, not later than one month after the final meeting.
On this basis, the Commission may award a prize to the designated cities, provided that their authorities met the commitments made during the selection phase and adequately responded to the recommendations issued by the panels during the selection and monitoring phase.
D) European dimension – selection criteria
The ECOC programme of activities should include events/actions which highlight the European dimension and offer European added value. The following aspects should be emphazised :
-a European dimension, which should foster multilateral cooperation between cultural operators at all levels, highlight the richness of cultural diversity and bring the common aspects of European cultures to the fore;
-a citizenship dimension, which should raise the interest of the citizens living in the city and from other countries and be an integral part of the long term cultural development of the city.
Past experience and the ECOC study confirm that the overall planning time needs to be extended. The selection process should start six years before the event is due to begin (pre-selection / selection / nomination). The Council should be in a position to designate the ECOCs four years before the event.
On the basis of the ECOC study, the Commission proposes a maximum of two ECOCs per year. This approach is in line with the March 2005 Decision which integrates the new Member States.
More than two ECOCs per year would harm visibility of the event. Therefore, the reference to the nomination of an ECOC by third countries has been dropped. Instead, the successful “cultural month” initiative which was in place for third countries until 2003 could be resumed. Discussions on this possibility should take place outside of the ECOC context.
As a result, the European Capitals of Culture will be designated in 2 phases, on the basis of the assessment of a panel composed of experts appointed by the Institutions and experts designated by the Member States concerned. A monitoring panel will support the designated cities in their preparation phases until the start of the event. A prize will reward the quality of the programme (particularly the relevance of the European dimension) once finalised.
This scheme maintains a good balance between national and local priorities and the required European added value of the action.
The selection panels, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the ECOC study call for several flanking measures to:
- improve transparency of the selection process;
- clarify the aims and objectives of the ECOC event;
- clarify the selection criteria;
- define the concept of European dimension;
- provide guidance to potential candidates.
On that basis, the Commission will develop relevant documentation, including specifications for the submission of nominations and the related official reports. This material will be made available online as soon as possible, starting in the year 2006. The Commission will also promote information and exchange of experience between ECOCs.
This proposal has no direct financial implications. The financial aspect in relation to the ECOCs is dealt with in the framework of the Culture 2000 and future Culture 2007 programmes. At this stage, the Commission’s proposal for the Culture 2007 programme would allow up to a tripling of the Community contribution to each individual ECOC as compared to the current programme.
The present proposal, which replaces and repeals Decision 1419/1999, will apply as of 2007. It includes a transitional period between the two schemes in order to cover the designations for 2011 and 2012.