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

Summary:

The "European Capitals of Culture" action is governed by Decision No 445/2014/EU for the years 2020 to 2033. In its Annex, the Decision includes a chronological list indicating when each Member State is entitled to host the action (two Member States per year). Competitions for the award of the European Capital of Culture title start six years before the year of the title with the publication of calls for applications by the relevant national authority.

In comparison with the previous Decision No 1622/2006/EC, Decision No 445/2014/EU extends the action to candidate countries and potential candidates for EU membership, providing that they participate in the Creative Europe Programme or in the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture at the date of publication of the call for applications. As a result, every third year starting from 2021, cities from candidate countries or potential candidates may hold the title. These competitions also start at the latest six years before the year of the title, with the publication of a call for applications by the Commission.

However, Decision No 445/2014/EU does not include European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries which are parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) - Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It is therefore not possible for cities in these countries to hold the European Capital of Culture title during the period from 2020 to 2033. In order to reinforce the cultural links between the European Union and EFTA/EEA countries, it is proposed to modify Decision No 445/2014/EU so as to make it possible for cities from EFTA/EEA countries which participate in the Creative Europe Programme, or in subsequent Union programmes supporting culture, to apply for the title.