Brussels, 20/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - Under 'Culture 2000', 233 projects have been offered grants, most of which focus on cultural heritage, the priority field in 2004. They will share approximately 32 million euro in funding. 30 European countries are taking part in Culture 2000 (2000-2006), which, this year, is helping more than 850 cultural operators to work together on projects with a European dimension. Culture 2000 is the Commission's cultural programme and supports annual as well as multi-annual cooperation projects, thus encouraging and promoting the establishment of European cultural networks. In 2004, 209 annual projects have been selected to a total of around 18.5 million euro, as well as 24 multi-annual cooperation projects (focusing on the visual arts, performing arts, cultural heritage, books and reading) to a total of around 13.5 million euro. In addition to the twenty-five Member States of the EU and the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) countries, two candidate countries (Bulgaria and Romania) participated in the programme. Of the 233 projects that have been proposed for selection in 2004, 113 concern cultural heritage, the priority this year. European Capitals of Culture for 2004, Lille and Genoa, have received 250 000 euro for preparatory activities, and an additional sum of 750 000 euro for activities which are taking place this year. Ján Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, said: “Once again, the projects selected in the framework of the Culture 2000 programme are an illustration of the extreme diversity of European cultures. The selected projects will actively participate in the constant development of pan-European cooperation in the field of culture.”