Brussels, 23/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - Marking the 30th anniversary of the European Capitals of Culture on Monday 23 February, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Tibor Navracsics took part in a series of activities in Mons, Belgium, one of the two capitals in 2015 (the other being Plzen in the Czech Republic). “Becoming a European Capital of Culture brings a breath of fresh air to cities, boosting their economic and social development. It is a great example of how culture can bring people together and help us to better understand each other and our shared communities”, Navracsics said.
Over the three decades, 50 European cities have been granted the title of capital of culture, an award that has developed and grown into one of the best known and most ambitious of the European cultural projects. European capitals of culture have helped place art and culture at the heart of urban development, increasing tourism and investment and rejuvenating communities across Europe, the European Commission states. On Monday, the commissioner was due to meet the mayor of Mons, Elio di Rupo, and other members of the city council. Together they named a street in the city in honour of Melina Mercouri, whose idea the European Capitals of Culture was. (Isabelle Lamberty)