RESOLUTIONof the Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs, meeting within the Council,of 13 June 1985concerning the annual event 'European City of Culture'(85/C 153/02)

I. Aim and content The Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs consider that the 'European City of Culture' event should be the expression of a culture which, in its historical emergence and contemporary development, is characterized by having both common elements and a richness born of diversity. The event has been established to help bring the peoples of the Member States closer together, but account should be taken of wider European cultural affinities. The event should open up to the European public particular aspects of the culture of the city, region or country concerned. It may also concentrate on the city concerned a number of cultural contributions from other Member States, primarily for the benefit of the inhabitants of the particular region. Between these two poles, a wide variety of emphases can be placed and inter-related themes chosen so as to enhance the city concerned and mark the particular occasion, if any, which has provided a reason for choosing it. II. Selection criteria As a general rule, only one 'European City of Culture' should be chosen each calendar year. Each year one Member State should hold the event. The decision on the choice of city must be taken at least two years in advance, so as to allow proper arrangements to be made. The Member States should in principle follow each other in alphabetical order. They may, however, alter the chronological order of events by agreement. In principle, one round of the Member States should be completed before another one is begun. III. Organization and finance The Member States in which the designated 'European City of Culture' lies decides which authority inside the Member States will take responsibility for organizing and financing the event. Given that the event forms part of cultural cooperation among the Member States, these should be associated with its preparation and kept regularly informed of progress. Other European and, where appropriate, non-European countries may also be associated with the preparation of the event. Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs in the Member States should if possible attend the opening ceremony. Member States should take all possible steps to publicize the event widely. RESOLUTIONof the Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs, meeting within the Council,of 13 June 1985concerning the annual event 'European City of Culture'(85/C 153/02)

I. Aim and content The Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs consider that the 'European City of Culture' event should be the expression of a culture which, in its historical emergence and contemporary development, is characterized by having both common elements and a richness born of diversity. The event has been established to help bring the peoples of the Member States closer together, but account should be taken of wider European cultural affinities. The event should open up to the European public particular aspects of the culture of the city, region or country concerned. It may also concentrate on the city concerned a number of cultural contributions from other Member States, primarily for the benefit of the inhabitants of the particular region. Between these two poles, a wide variety of emphases can be placed and inter-related themes chosen so as to enhance the city concerned and mark the particular occasion, if any, which has provided a reason for choosing it. II. Selection criteria As a general rule, only one 'European City of Culture' should be chosen each calendar year. Each year one Member State should hold the event. The decision on the choice of city must be taken at least two years in advance, so as to allow proper arrangements to be made. The Member States should in principle follow each other in alphabetical order. They may, however, alter the chronological order of events by agreement. In principle, one round of the Member States should be completed before another one is begun. III. Organization and finance The Member States in which the designated 'European City of Culture' lies decides which authority inside the Member States will take responsibility for organizing and financing the event. Given that the event forms part of cultural cooperation among the Member States, these should be associated with its preparation and kept regularly informed of progress. Other European and, where appropriate, non-European countries may also be associated with the preparation of the event. Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs in the Member States should if possible attend the opening ceremony. Member States should take all possible steps to publicize the event widely.