Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community initiative for 'The European city of culture' event
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES it*H *r it it * i t* * it it Brussels, 30. 10. 1997 COM(97) 549 final 97/0290 (COD) Proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION establishing a Community initiative for "The European City of Culture" event (presented by the Commission) EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM This proposal is to set up a Community initiative to provide support for a major annual event, "The European City of Culture", the purpose of which is to highlight the cultural wealth and diversity of the cities of Europe whilst emphasising their shared cultural heritage and the vitality of the arts. Seen as a way of bringing the peoples of Europe closer together, the "European City of Culture" was launched, on the initiative of Melina Mercouri, by the Council of Ministers on 13 June 1985. 3 Since then, the popularity of this event has gone from strength to strength, its cultural and socio-economic impact being measurable by the large number of visitors to the city concerned. 4 These "Cities of Culture" have staged numerous cultural events in all fields of artistic endeavour. The cities designated "European Cities of Culture" to date have been: 1985: Athens 1986: Florence 1987: Amsterdam 1988: Berlin 1989: Paris 1990: Glasgow 1991: Dublin 1992: Madrid 1993: Antwerp 1994: Lisbon 1995: Luxembourg 1996: Copenhagen 1997: Thessaloniki 1998: Stockholm 1999: Weimar As regards the year 2000, in view of the large number of applications submitted and the particular symbolism of that year, marking as it does the transition to the third millennium, the following cities have been jointly designated: Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Brussels, Cracow, Helsinki, Prague, Reykjavik, Santiago de Compostela. Furthermore, in response to the growing number of applications from cities both inside and outside the Community to host the "European City of Culture" event, the Ministers of Culture, through their Conclusions of 18 May 1990,5 introduced the "European Cultural Month", a scheme which has the same objectives as the European City of Culture but is intended mainly for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Cities designated to host the "European Cultural Month" to date are: 1992: Cracow; 1993: Graz; 1994: Budapest; 1995: Nicosia; 1996: St Petersburg; 1997: Ljubljana; 1998: Valetta and Linz; 1999: Plovdiv. Since 1991 a network of European Cities of Culture has been developed to enable those professionally involved in organising the event to compare notes. In 1994, at the request 3 OJC 153, 22. 6. 1985, p. 2. 4 See Study by John Myerscough: "The European Cities of Culture and the European Month of Culture' 1994. 5 OJC 162, 3. 7. 1990, p. 1. of the Commission, this network, which receives a subsidy from the Community, produced a study of the impact of the event since its inception. 6 Up to now, the "European City of Culture" has been an intergovernmental initiative, the choice of city being a political decision taken by the representatives of the Member States. Every year, the Community has made a contribution to the "European City of Culture" and to the city chosen to host the "European Cultural Month". The cultural competence assigned to the Community by the Treaty on European Union now requires that this event be placed in the Community framework. That is why, in the discussions leading up to its opinion of 7 April 1995 on the Kaleidoscope programme,7 the European Parliament asked the Commission to present a specific programme on the European City of Culture after the year 2000 based on Article 128 of the Treaty. In this context, the Commission proposes that: - each year a city be chosen to carry out a cultural project on a specific, European theme, possibly in association with other European cities, along the lines set out in this Decision and in accordance with the principles for Community action in the cultural field enshrined in Article 128; - the "European Cultural Month" event be discontinued; - from 2000 to 2005 inclusive, a "European City of Culture" event be organised at Community level and that this event, including the funding for it, be incorporated into a single "culture" programme, for which the Commission will present proposals by May 1998; - Parliament and the Council adopt these proposals under the procedure laid down in Article 128 EC; - as an exception during the transition, the Council select the European City of Culture for 2001 to give the city time to prepare and carry out its programme properly (the cities for 2000 having already been chosen). See Note 2. 7 See report by Mr Augias PE 211. 116/fin of 27 March 1995; Amended Commission proposal COM(95) 373 final of 28 July 1995; Decision 719/96 of 29 March 1996 (recital 11) establishing a programme to support artistic and cultural activities having a European dimension (Kaleidoscope). 3 Proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION establishing a Community initiative for "The European City of Culture" event THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 128 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 Article 189b of the Treaty, 1. Whereas Europe has, throughout its history, 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 the EC Treaty gives the Community competence in the cultural field (Article 128); whereas all Community activity designed to promote the arts should therefore be placed on the new legal basis, in accordance with the objectives and means assigned to the Community by the Treaty; 3. Whereas, on 13 June 1985, the Ministers responsible for cultural affairs meeting within the Council adopted a resolution concerning the annual organisation of the "European City of Culture", the main aim of which was to make certain cultural aspects of the city, region or country in question accessible to the European public, an event for which the European Community has provided financial support; 4. Whereas Parliament, in the discussions leading up to its opinion of 7 April 1995 on the Kaleidoscope programme,1 asked the Commission to present a specific programme on the European City of Culture after the year 2000 on the basis of Article 128 of the EC Treaty; 5. Whereas any Community initiative to promote the "European City of Culture" must satisfy predefined objectives and use the resources provided for by the Treaty in accordance with Article 128; See report by Mr Augias PE 211. 116/fin of 27 March 1995; Amended Commission proposal COM(95) 373 final of 28 July 1995; Decision 719/96 of 29 March 1996 (recital 11) establishing a programme to support artistic and cultural activities having a European dimension (Kaleidoscope). 4 Whereas, in compliance with the principles for action laid down by Article 128, a 6. "European City of Culture" is to be selected each year to organise a cultural project on a specific, European theme, possibly in association with other European cities; 7. Whereas the "European Cultural Month" event should be discontinued; 8. Whereas the Community has in the past made a contribution to the "European City of Culture" and the "European Cultural Month" events under the Kaleidoscope Programme, which is due to expire in 1998;2 9. Whereas the Council adopted a Decision on 30 June 1997 calling on the Commission, in accordance with Article 152 of the EC Treaty, to conduct a study prior to presenting proposals for a single programme for culture by May 1998, into which an Action "European City of Culture" will be incorporated, including funding arrangements, HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION: ArtkleJ. The Community shall organise a promotional initiative entitled "European City of Culture". The purpose shall be to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures, and the features they share, and promote greater mutual acquaintance between Union citizens. Article 2 From 2002, the "European City of Culture" shall be chosen in accordance with the following procedure: - - three years before the event is due to begin, the Member States concerned shall submit to the Commission an application for the town or towns, as described in Article 3, for the year in question; the Commission shall form a Selection Panel which shall deliver its opinion on the applications, judged against the objectives and characteristics of this Action. The Selection Panel shall be composed of seven leading independent figures of whom two shall be appointed by Parliament, two by the Council, two by the Commission and one by the Committee of the Regions. The Selection Panel shall present its opinion to the Commission; - on a proposal from the Commission and after the European Parliament has been consulted, the Council, acting by qualified majority, shall designate the "European City of Culture" for the year in question Article 3 The application must present a European cultural project focusing on a specific European theme and based principally on cultural cooperation, in accordance with the objectives See European Parliament and Council Decision 719/96 of 29 March 1996 establishing Kaleidoscope Programme (Action 4). the and measures provided for by Article 128 of the EC Treaty. The project may be organised in association with other European cities. The application must specify how, within the scope allowed by the theme, the applicant city intends: - to highlight artistic movements and styles shared by Europeans which it has inspired or to which it has made a significant contribution: - to promote cultural events and works involving people active in culture from other cities in Member States of the Union and leading to lasting cultural cooperation; - to receive citizens of the Union and reach as wide an audience as possible for the various events by employing a multimedia, multilingual approach; and - to promote dialogue between European cultures and those from other parts of the world. Article 4 The countries of the European Economic Area, the associated countries of central and eastern Europe, Cyprus and European third countries which have concluded cooperation agreements with the Community containing a cultural clause shall be allowed to participate in this initiative. Article 5 The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of this intiative Each year it shall produce a report evaluating the results of the previous year's event. This report shall be presented to Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions. Arikk_6 This initiative, containing detailed information on procedure and closing dates for submission of applications, shall be published each year in the C Series of the Official Journal of the European Communities. Article 7 This Decision shall enter into force on ANNEX "European City of Culture" Initiative Conditions of participation In order to promote cultural awareness, greater mutual acquaintance between Union citizens and cooperation and exchanges in the arts world, the Community intends to promote the "European City of Culture". The Community is therefore organising this initiative on the following terms: 1. Each year, a city will be chosen to be "European City of Culture", in accordance with the objectives laid out in Article 1. In order to be considered, cities must submit an application presenting a European cultural project based on a specific European theme. It may be organised in association with other cities and must be based principally on cultural cooperation, in accordance with the objectives and measures provided for by Article 128 of the EC Treaty. The city's plans must comprise specific measures satisfying the following criteria: - promotion of shared artistic movements and styles in the development of which the city has played a particular role; - organisation of artistic events (music, dance, theatre, visual arts, cinema, etc. ) highlighting the city's own culture and involving people involved in cultural activities from other cities in the Member States of the Union, with a view to establishing lasting cooperation; - promotion of European public awareness of the figures and events which have marked the history and culture of the city; - organisation of measures to increase access to and awareness of fixed and movable artistic assets and artistic productions specific to the city; - promotion of a cultural heritage which, even if less well-known, is of a quality worthy of a wider audience; - organisation of specific cultural projects designed to bring young people to the arts; - organisation of specific cultural projects designed to increase social cohesion; - taking the planned activities to a wider public, particularly by the use of multimedia and audiovisual means and a multilingual approach; - organisation of initiatives concerning the promotion and management of the arts; ¥ - contribution to the development of economic activity, 'particularly in terms of employment and tourism; - need to develop high-quality and innovative cultural tourism (alternative forms of tourism, original methods for managing flows of tourists, new systems of the partnership between importance in this connection of managing the cultural heritage on a sustainable basis and reconciling the wishes of visitors (reception, guides, information, accommodation) with those of the local population (respect for the quality of life, the environment, etc. ); the parties concerned) with due allowance for - joint organisation of initiatives designed to promote dialogue between the cultures of Europe and the cultures of other parts of the world. 2. Applications must be sent to the European Commission by the Member States on in the Official Journal of the European an application form published - Communities. They must present the specific European theme on which the city's project is to be based and must contain a detailed description of the specific measures to be organised (see point 1 above) with reference to the criteria set down in Article 3. They must also give details of the financial contribution(s) of the Member States concerned and the results expected. Applications must be presented by the Member States three years before the date envisaged for the start of the annual event. Decisions on the choice of the "European City of Culture" will be taken in the year in which the applications are presented. Applications must contain a balanced financing plan showing the resources needed for its realisation. 3. 4. ISSN 0254-1475 COM(97) 549 final DOCUMENTS EN 01 16 Catalogue number : CB-C0-97-566-EN-C ISBN 92-78-26242-0 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg <b