On Wednesday 7 October, the Council of the EU supported a proposal for a decision to modify the calendar of the ‘European Capitals of Culture’ due to the Covid-19 pandemic (see EUROPE 12544/24). It believes that the European capitals of 2020, Rijeka (Croatia) and Galway (Ireland), should continue to bear this title until 30 April 2021.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has not spared the European Capitals of Culture action and has had a huge negative impact on the cities of Galway and Rijeka. We are determined to support them by extending the implementation of their programmes beyond 2020. This will help both cities not only financially, but also culturally”, commented German Minister of Culture and Media Monika Grütters on behalf of the rotating presidency of the EU Council.
The EU Council’s position also takes up the idea of changing the timetable for the coming years. Timișoara (Romania) and Eleusis (Greece) will not hold this title in 2021, but in 2023.
It is assumed that the European Parliament will take the same position on this proposal presented in mid-August (see EUROPE 12544/24). The vote in the Culture and Education Committee is scheduled for 27 October.
The European Capitals of Culture campaign aims in particular at safeguarding and promoting the diversity of cultures in Europe, widening access to and participation in culture, strengthening the capacity of the cultural sector and raising the international profile of cities through culture.
See the EU Council’s mandate: https://bit.ly/2SBMqVt (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)