On Thursday 2 October, the European Commission published its first interim evaluation report on the European Capitals of Culture (ECOC) for the period 2020-2033. Based on an external study commissioned from Ecorys Europe and KEA European Affairs and published in July, the document confirms that the benefits of this initiative, launched in 1985, extend beyond the year for which the city is awarded the title and enable lasting transformations that reflect European values.
As the report points out, “cultural budgets of host city administrations [are] often around 5 times larger as a consequence of hosting their ECoC”, and the event has led to the “creation of formal and informal cultural ecosystems” in the cities concerned, enabling urban renewal, the reuse of spaces for culture and the development of local talent.
In addition, the Commission reports that the title contributes to strengthening international cultural cooperation, European cultural diplomacy and the promotion of a common European identity.
In this way, the initiative aims to “increase people’s sense of belonging to a common cultural area” and “strengthen cross-border cooperation”.
The external study on which this report is based estimates that around half of the projects carried out between 2013 and 2022 included a European dimension, through cooperation or themes such as “tolerance, coexistence, peace and equality”.
Another benefit is the increased international appeal of these cities, as the title is associated, on average, with a 30-40% increase in visitor numbers, with almost one in three visitors coming from abroad.
The report also notes that the initiative is cost-effective, since the action in favour of European capitals mobilises public and private funding at a relatively low cost to the EU (around €3 to 5 million). Nearly €900 million has been invested between 2013 and 2022, according to an analysis of the budgets of the cities that have been awarded the title.
However, these cities sometimes have difficulty understanding the “European dimension” and the long-term implications. The Commission suggests that clearer guidelines and more appropriate monitoring would be useful.
In a press release dated 9 October, it also stated that these conclusions precede work on the future legal basis for the action, which will cover the years after 2033.
Link to the Commission’s report: https://aeur.eu/f/iws
Related working documents: https://aeur.eu/f/iwr (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)