1.7.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 166/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DECISION 1419/1999/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 May 1999 establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2005 to 2019 THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 151 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Atrticle 251 of the Treaty (%), (1)  Whereas, throughout its history, Europe has been the site of exceptionally prolific and varied artistic activity; whereas urban life has played a major role in the growth and influence of the European cultures; (2) Whereas Article 151 of the Treaty grants powers to the Community in the cultural field; whereas all Community activity designed to promote cultural activities should therefore be undertaken on this legal basis, in accordance with the objectives and means assigned to the Community by the Treaty; (3)  Whereas, on 13 June 1985, the Ministers respons- ible for Cultural Affairs meeting within the Council, adopted a resolution concerning the annual event ‘European City of Culture’ (%), the main aim of which was to open up to the European public particular aspects of the culture of the city, region or country concerned, an event for which the Community has provided financial support; () OJ C 362, 28.11.1997, p. 12. (3 OJ C 180, 11.6.1998, p. 70. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 30 April 1998 (O] C 152, 18.5.1998, p. 55), Council Common Position of 24 July 1998 (OJ C 285, 14.9.1998, p. 5) and Decision of the Euro- pean Parliament of 11 March 1999 (O] C 175, 21. 6. 1999). Council Decision of 10 May 1999. () OJ C 153, 22.6.1985, p. 2. 4) Whereas a study which has been carried out into the results achieved by European Cities of Culture shows that the event has a positive impact in terms of media resonance, the development of culture and tourism and the recognition by inhabitants of the importance of their city having been chosen; ()  Whereas the positive impact has none the less not always produced results lasting beyond the duration of the project itself and whereas, while recognising their competence to decide about the content of their project, the attention of public decision- makers in the cities chosen should be drawn to the need to integrate the cultural project into a dynamic medium-term process; (6) Whereas this initiative is important both for strengthening local and regional identity and for fostering European integration; (7)  Whereas, in the discussions leading up to its opinion of 7 April 1995 (°) on the Kaleidoscope programme established by Decision No 719/ 96/EC (), the European Parliament asked the Commission to present a specific programme on the European City of Culture after the year 2000 on the basis of Article 151 of the Treaty; (8)  Whereas the importance and impact of the City of Culture event calls for the creation of a rotational system of designation which will ensure that each Member State will have one of its cities chosen at regular intervals; whereas a predictable, consistent and transparent rotational system is best achieved through a single decision whereby the order in which Member States will hold the event is decided; () OJ C 109, 1.5.1995, p. 281. () Decision No 719/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 March 1996 establishing a programme to support artistic and cultural activities having a European dimension (Kaleidoscope) (OJ L 99, 20.4.1996, p. 20).