1.   

In accordance with Decision No 445/2014/EU (1) as amended by Decision (EU) 2017/1545 (2) further amended by Decision (EU) 2020/2229 (3), the Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Sport, Youth and Culture, is launching a call for submission of applications for the Union Action ‘European Capital of Culture’ for the year 2030 for cities in EFTA/EEA countries, candidate countries or potential candidates that participate in the Creative Europe Programme at the date of publication of this call.

2.   

The aim of this call is to lead to the designation of one of these cities as European Capital of Culture in 2030.

3.   

The objectives of the European Capital of Culture action are to safeguard and promote the diversity of cultures in Europe and to highlight the common features they share as well as to increase citizens’ sense of belonging to a common cultural area, and to foster the contribution of culture to the long-term development of cities. Activities developed by the city that will be designated as European Capital of Culture will strive to enhance the range, diversity and European dimension of its cultural offering; to widen access to and participation in culture; to strengthen the capacity of its cultural sector and the links of the latter with other sectors and to raise its international profile through culture.

4.   

The full text provides an overview of the eligibility, exclusion and award criteria that will be applied for the assessment of the applications as well as information about the selection procedure. Applications must comply with all the requirements set out in the full text of the call.

5.   

Applications must be sent to the address indicated in the full text of the call no later than 16 October 2024.