EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 10.9.2026

COM(2026) 455 final

2026/0259(COD)

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

renewing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2034 to 2047 and repealing Decision No 445/2014/EU

(Text with EEA relevance)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

The European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) were created in 1985 as an intergovernmental initiative. They were transformed officially into a European Union action in 1999 to make the initiative more effective. New criteria and selection procedures were established, a chronological list of Member States was drawn up indicating the order in which they were entitled to host ‘the title’, and a European panel of independent experts was created to assess the applications (Decision No 1419/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 establishing a Community action for the ECoC for the years 2005 to 2019 1 ).

The rules were first renewed in 2006 to develop the effectiveness of the initiative further by stimulating competition between the cities and fostering the quality of the bids. These new rules also introduced various measures to accompany the cities in their preparation, including a monitoring process (Decision No 1622/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community action for the ECoC for the years 2007 to 2019 2 ). The current legal base (Decision No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 ) was adopted in 2014.

Decision No 445/2014/EU will end in 2033. The competition for the title is currently launched six years in advance to give the cities sufficient time for their preparation before the beginning of the year of the title. Therefore, the new legal base for the continuation of the ECoC should be adopted in 2027 to ensure a smooth transition in 2034. This new legal framework aims to guarantee the continued relevance of the initiative, while considering the need for simplification measures.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

•Consistency with other Union policies

The initiative is aligned with the overarching European Commission’s 2024-2029 policy priorities, including 1) supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model; 2) protecting our democracy, upholding our values; 3) Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness; and 4) a global Europe.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

3.RESULTS OF EX POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT

•Interim evaluation of existing legislation

•Stakeholder consultations

•Collection and use of expertise

•Impact assessment

•Regulatory fitness and simplification

–further targeted support for applicant and designated cities;

–more centralised communication activities, ensuring stronger citizens’ awareness of the initiative;

–more transparent guidelines for the assessment of cities’ applications (especially as regards the “European dimension”);

–the revision and clarification of selection questionnaire concepts, and language;

–stronger collaboration and knowledge-sharing between cities, especially through the possibility to apply as (cross-border) groups of cities, for which one city would coordinate and lead the bid would be introduced.

•Fundamental rights

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

As for this decision renewing the Decision No 445/2014/EU, this new Commission’s proposal has no direct immediate budgetary implications.

The period covered by the proposal coincides with several multiannual financial frameworks.

For the years after 2033, the legal and financial aspects of the ECoC will be directly linked to the provisions included in the future multiannual financial frameworks. On this basis, they will also be dealt with in the framework of the respective Union programmes supporting culture, the new ‘AgoraEU’ programme and its successors.

2026/0259 (COD)

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

renewing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2034 to 2047 and repealing Decision No 445/2014/EU

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 167(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee 13 ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Committee of the Regions 14 ,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

Whereas:

(1)The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) aims at an ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe and confers on the Union the task, inter alia, of contributing to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore. In this respect, the Union, where necessary, supports and supplements Member States’ action to improve the knowledge and dissemination of the culture and history of the European peoples.

(2)The Commission Communication ‘A Culture Compass for Europe’ 15 (‘Culture Compass’) sets out the Union’s strategic vision for cultural policy, promoting access to and participation in culture, cultural and linguistic diversity, cohesion and intercultural dialogue, while reinforcing culture’s role in creativity, innovation, competitiveness and international relations.

(3)The Joint Declaration ‘Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe’ 16 transforms the vision of the Culture Compass into a shared political commitment between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, providing a strategic framework that places culture at the heart of Europe’s identity and stresses its importance for individuals, communities, and the European Union.

(4)The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 17 , which entered into force on 18 March 2007 and to which the Union is a party, aims at protecting and promoting cultural diversity, fostering interculturality and raising awareness of the value of cultural diversity at local, national and international levels.

(5)Decision No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 18 established a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033. This Decision should be repealed. However, its provisions should continue to apply in relation to all cities which have already been, or are in the process of being, designated for the years up to 2033.

(6)The Culture Compass recognises the revitalising role of culture, beyond 2033, in urban contexts and acknowledges the role of the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) in contributing to the culture-led, inclusive, urban and regional transformation and regeneration of cities and regions across Europe. It acts as a driver for social cohesion, economic growth, innovation, territorial attractiveness and sustainable development.

(7)Action at Union level in the field of culture should build on existing initiatives such as the Council’s EU Work Plans for Culture, the Joint Communication ‘Towards an EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations’ 19 , the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage 20 , and Rome Declaration of March 2017 21 , and closely align with the objectives of the Culture Compass for Europe and the Joint Declaration ‘Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe’.

(8)The ECoC should align with relevant European initiatives, such as the New European Bauhaus (NEB) 22 , the European Heritage Label, the EU Agenda for Cities 23 , the European Democracy Shield 24 and the strategy on intergenerational fairness 25 . Council Recommendation to Member States on the New European Bauhaus adopted on 11 May 2026 calls on the Council and the European Parliament to strengthen the ECoC in a way that synergises with the values and principles of the NEB, which supports the sustainable, inclusive and quality-driven development, transformation or regeneration of neighbourhoods in cities throughout Europe.

(9)The first interim evaluation 26 , as well as the public consultation in the summer of 2024 27 , demonstrated that the ECoC is an ambitious cultural initiative in Europe, and well appreciated by its people. After 40 years, the ECoC remains a successful flagship action, boosting the cultural and creative sectors, raising the international profile of host cities and supporting rural and urban development through culture. It is a cost-effective action leveraging public and private funding, and acting as a catalyst for social and economic development, especially when embedded in long-term local and regional strategies. In this context, the ECoC should be continued and updated to take into account emerging trends. A renewed action should therefore be established for the period after 2033.

(10)In addition to showcasing Europe’s cultural diversity and shared heritage, ECoC title (‘the title’) helps cities enrich cultural life, strengthen cultural and creative sectors, improve access to and visibility of cultural assets, support long-term urban development, and foster a shared sense of belonging and intercultural dialogue.

(11)The objective of the action established by this Decision should be fully in line with the objectives of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the ‘AgoraEU’ programme 28 and the specific objectives of the programme’s ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand 29 .

(12)To achieve the objectives of the action, cities holding the title should strengthen the innovation and digital capacity of the cultural sectors, build strong links between culture and other relevant sectors such as education, research, environment, urban development, sport and sustainable cultural tourism in line with the European Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, and use the ECoC as a catalyst for sustainable local development, healthy and green urban environments 30 , and enhance the international profile of cities through culture. They should also promote social inclusion and equal opportunities, improve access to and participation in culture, ensure the broadest possible involvement of people in preparing and implementing the cultural programme, particularly children, young people, people with disabilities and people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, while fully respecting artistic freedom, diversity of cultural expressions and the improvement of working conditions for artists and cultural and creative professionals.

(13)The ECoC action requires significant efforts from applicant and title-holding cities, including the preparation and delivery of a high-level, year-long cultural programme and long-term planning aimed at leaving a lasting legacy. Cities therefore need appropriate support, tools, guidance and advice. The Commission should coordinate relevant activities to help maximise the action’s lasting impact.

(14)The competitions for the title should take place every year in two different Member States following the chronological calendar set out in the Annex (‘the calendar’), thus ensuring a fair distribution of ECoC across all Member States. In the relevant years, the competition should also be open to cities in EFTA/EEA countries, candidate countries or potential candidates for EU membership and third countries linked to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture, on the condition that each eligible country may win the title only once during the 2034-2047 period. This is a way to bring them closer to the Union by highlighting the common aspects of European cultures as confirmed by previous experiences. In cases of force majeure or enlargement of the Union, it should be possible for the Commission to amend the Annex.

(15)In order to ensure efficient and timely reaction to cases of force majeure or enlargement of the Union, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in order to amend the Annex. It is particularly important that the Commission carry out any necessary consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making 31 . In particular, to ensure their equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member State experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

(16)The title should be reserved to cities or cross-border groups of cities, irrespective of their size. In order to reach a wider public and amplify the title’s impact, cities might involve their surrounding area.

(17)The award of the title should be based on a cultural programme with a strong European dimension. Such a cultural programme should be designed specifically for the title year and be part of a long-term strategy.

(18)The selection process should be organised in two stages (pre-selection and selection) and carried out by a panel of independent experts. This fair and transparent organisation has enabled cities to improve their applications between the pre-selection and the selection phases based on the expert advice received from the panel. Furthermore, to safeguard the continuity of the ECoC action and the transfer of experience and know-how, the replacement of experts should be staggered.

(19)The participation of national appointed experts should continue to be ensured by enabling Member States to appoint up to two experts to the panel carrying out the selection and monitoring procedures.

(20)The selection criteria should guide candidate cities on the objectives and requirements with which they need to comply to be awarded the title. While a stronger focus should be placed on sustainability, long-term planning and digital accessibility, the European dimension should become an overarching criterion as recommended by the first interim evaluation of the European Capitals of Culture Action 2020-2033.

(21)Candidate cities should explore the possibility, if applicable, of seeking financial support from other relevant Union programmes and funds, especially the AgoraEU programme and the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security, channelled through the National and Regional Partnership Plans, as well as subsequent programmes.

(22)The preparation phase between the designation of a city and the year of the title is crucial for the success of an ECoC. Evaluations and stakeholder consultations demonstrated that the support measures under previous legal frameworks were highly valuable and should be further developed and coordinated among past, present and future cities holding the title as well as candidate cities, with the European Commission, supporting a network of cities to exchange experiences and knowledge.

(23)The ECoC title and the Melina Mercouri prize, which should be paid in two payments, have a strong symbolic value. Title-holding cities are expected to fulfil the commitments they made during the bidding process and to ensure continued compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union 32 . Therefore, the awarding of the title and prize should be subject to stringent and clear conditions, and a framework should also be introduced for their removal, if necessary when a titleholder no longer meets the criteria or no longer complies with the project and work plan submitted in its application.

(24)The title-holding cities should ensure, from the moment of their designation to the end of the title year, that all events, activities and communication materials clearly display the EU logo together with the common ECoC logo and, if applicable, the EU flag. They should always acknowledge that the ECoC is an action funded by the European Union, with clear participation from the European Commission.

(25)The cities themselves should continue to be the key players in the evaluation process, to ensure relevant primary data collection at local level, especially in relation to the impact of the title.

(26)The objectives of this Decision, namely to safeguard and promote the diversity of cultures in Europe, to highlight the common shared features and to foster the contribution of culture to the long-term development of cities, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States given the need, in particular, for common, clear and transparent criteria and procedures for selection and monitoring, as well as for a strong coordination between the Member States, but can rather, by reason of the scale and the expected effects of the action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Renewal of the action

A Union action entitled ‘European Capitals of Culture’ (‘ECoC’) is hereby renewed for the years 2034 to 2047 (‘the action’).

Article 2

Objectives

1. The general objectives of the action are:

(a) to safeguard and promote the diversity of cultures in Europe and to highlight the common features they share, as well as to increase a European sense of belonging to a common cultural area and to promote the values on which the Union is founded;

(b) to foster the contribution of culture to the sustainable and inclusive development of cities, in accordance with their respective strategies and priorities while enriching their cultural life, strengthening their cultural and creative ecosystems, and enhancing the visibility, accessibility and diversity of their cultural assets, heritage and expressions.

2. The specific objectives of the action shall be the following:

(a) to enhance the range, diversity and European dimension of the cultural offering in cities, including through transnational cooperation, thereby raising the international profile of cities.

(b) to improve access to and participation in culture, the arts and cultural heritage for all, notably for young people, and to strengthen social cohesion, intergenerational fairness, equality and diversity, through cultural engagement.

(c) to strengthen the innovation and digital capacity of the local cultural sector, and its cooperation with other sectors. 

Article 3

Access to the action

1.    The competition for the title shall be open to cities or (cross-border) groups of cities (both understood hereinafter as ‘city/cities’) which may involve their surrounding areas.

2.    The number of cities holding the title each year (‘the year of the title’) shall not exceed three.

The title shall be awarded each year to a maximum of one city in each of the two Member States appearing in the calendar set out in the Annex (‘the calendar’). In the relevant years, it shall also be awarded to one city from a European Free Trade Association country which is party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (‘EFTA/EEA country’), a candidate country or a potential candidate for EU membership, or a third country associated to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture, or one city from a country that accedes to the Union in the circumstances set out in paragraph 5. In cases of force majeure or enlargement of the Union, the Annex may be amended by the Commission by way of a delegated act.

3.    Cities in Member States shall be entitled to hold the title for one year in accordance with the order of the Member States appearing in the calendar. In cases of force majeure impacting a designated city and delaying the start of activities of its title year, the city in question shall be allowed to postpone the year following a written request from the country impacted to the Commission which shall amend the Annex by way of a delegated act.

4.    Cities in EFTA/EEA countries, candidate countries or potential candidates for EU membership or third countries associated to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture, as at the date of publication of the call for submission of applications referred to in Article 10(2), may apply for the title for one year in the framework of an open competition organised in accordance with the calendar.

Each EFTA/EEA country, candidate country or potential candidate for EU membership or third country associated to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture shall only be allowed to host the title once during the period from 2034 to 2047.

5.    Where a country accedes to the Union after [One day after publication in the OJ] but before 1 January 2041, it may be entitled to host the title seven years after its accession in accordance with the rules and procedures applicable to Member States, depending on the number of countries acceding to the Union at the same time. The calendar shall be updated accordingly by way of a delegated act of the Commission. Where a country accedes to the Union on or after 1 January 2041, it shall not be entitled to participate in the action as a Member State. 

However, in years where there are already three cities holding the title in accordance with the calendar, cities in countries referred to in the first subparagraph shall only be entitled to hold the title in the next available year in the calendar, in the order of accession of those countries.

If a city from a country referred to in the first subparagraph has previously participated in a competition for candidate countries and potential candidates, it may not participate in any subsequent competition for Member States. If, during the period from 2034 to 2047, a city from such a country has been designated to hold the title in accordance with paragraph 4, that country shall not be entitled, after its accession, to organise a competition as a Member State during that period.

If more than one country accedes to the Union on the same date and if there is no agreement on the order of participation in the action between those countries, the Council shall organise a draw.

6.    The Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 18 concerning amendments to the Annex.

Article 4

Application

1.    A common application form based on the criteria laid down in Article 5 shall be provided by the Commission and used by all candidate cities.

Where a candidate city involves its surrounding area, the application shall be made under the name of that city. Where a group of cities apply, the application shall be made under the name of the leading city in the Member State concerned.

2.    Every application shall be based on a cultural programme with a strong European dimension, respect artistic freedom and diversity of cultural expression, and contribute to the improvement of working conditions for artists and cultural and creative professionals.

The cultural programme shall cover the year of the title and shall be created specifically for the title, in accordance with the criteria laid down in Article 5.

Article 5

Criteria

Applications shall be assessed based on the following criteria, and all criteria shall include a strong European dimension. The Commission shall provide guidelines on the definition and understanding of those criteria, in particular of the European dimension, taking into account synergies with relevant initiatives such as the New European Bauhaus. The criteria for the assessment of application are as follows:

(a) long-term strategy and legacy;

(b) cultural and artistic content;

(c) outreach, communication and citizens’ participation;

(d) management and capacity to deliver.

(1) as regards the ‘long-term strategy and legacy’ category, the following factors shall be taken into account:

(a) the existence of a cultural strategy, which covers, at the time of the application, the action and includes plans for the legacy beyond the title year;

(b) the plans to strengthen the capacity of the cultural and creative sectors, including developing long-term cooperation between the cultural, socio-economic and social sectors, with a particular emphasis on the working conditions of artists;

(c) the envisaged long-term cultural, social and economic impact, including in terms of sustainable, urban and if applicable rural development, that the title would have;

(d) the plans for monitoring and evaluating the impact of the title, and for disseminating the results of the evaluation at a European level.

(2) as regards the ‘cultural and artistic content’ category, the following factors shall be assessed:

(a) a clear and coherent artistic vision and strategy for the cultural programme: promoting the cultural and linguistic diversity of Europe and artistic freedom;

(b) the involvement of local and European artists, cultural organisations and residents, including young people, in the design and implementation of the cultural programme,

(c) the cooperation with cities of different European countries, and cities holding the title in the same year;

(d) the range and overall artistic quality of the activities, highlighting the common aspects of European cultures, heritage and history, as well as European integration and current European themes;

(e) the capacity to combine cultural heritage and traditional art forms with new, innovative and experimental digital cultural expressions, fostering new modes of physical and digital engagement.

(3) as regards the ‘outreach, communication and citizens’ participation’ category, the following factors shall be assessed:

(a) the meaningful involvement of diverse local communities and civil society in the preparation of the application and the implementation of the action;

(b) the creation of new and inclusive opportunities, including digital, for a wide range of inhabitants, including those from peripheral areas and visitors, to attend, access or participate in cultural activities – in particular children and young people - with special attention being given to persons with disabilities and older people as regards the accessibility of those activities;

(c) the overall strategy for audience development, emphasising the link with education and the participation of schools and higher education institutions;

(d) a comprehensive marketing and communication strategy, attracting the interest of a wide local, European, and international public and highlighting that the action is a Union action using the common ECoC logo and tagline.

(4) as regards the ‘management and capacity to deliver’ category, the following factors shall be assessed:

(a) the feasibility of the fund-raising strategy and proposed budget, which includes, if applicable, plans to seek financial support from Union programmes and funds, and covers the preparation phase, the year of the title, the evaluation and legacy activities, and contingency planning;

(b) the envisaged governance and delivery structure with staff who have the necessary skills for the sustainable implementation of the action, allowing for efficient cooperation between the local authorities and the delivery structure, including the artistic team;

(c) the procedures for the appointment of the general and artistic directors and their fields of action;

(d) a wide support for the application and a sustainable financial commitment from the local, regional and national authorities;

(e) the candidate city has or will have an adequate and viable infrastructure to hold the title.

Article 6

Expert panel

1.    A panel of independent experts (‘the panel’) shall be established to carry out the selection and monitoring procedures.

2.    The panel shall consist of 12 experts appointed by Union institutions and bodies (‘the European experts’) in accordance with paragraph 3.

3.    The Commission shall propose a pool of potential European experts based on an open call for expressions of interest.

The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission shall appoint three experts each, in accordance with their respective procedures, and nominate another three experts each as reserves.

The European Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee shall appoint one expert each, in accordance with their respective procedures, and nominate one each as reserve.

Additionally, the Commission shall select one expert from the Youth Cultural Ambassador Network 33 and nominate one expert as reserve, in accordance with its procedure.

When selecting European experts, each of those Union institutions and bodies shall seek to ensure complementary skills, a balanced geographical distribution, gender balance and a diversity of backgrounds to reflect the concerns of various European societies in the overall composition of the panel. 

4.    In addition to the European experts for the selection and monitoring of a city from a Member State, the Member State concerned shall be entitled to appoint up to two experts to the panel in accordance with its own procedures and in consultation with the Commission. The Member State concerned shall be responsible for contracting those two experts. This does not apply to competitions for third countries.

5.    All experts shall:

(a) be citizens and residents of the Union;

(b) be independent;

(c) have substantial experience and expertise in:

(i) at least one of the cultural and creative sectors;

(ii) the cultural development of cities; or

(iii) the organisation of an ECoC event or an international cultural event of similar scope and scale; or

(iv) the promotion and management of cultural tourism.

(d) be in a position to devote several working days per year to the panel including trips (approximately 30 to 40 days).

6.    The members of the panel shall be entitled to remuneration for their services, as well as to the payment of all expenses directly related to the performance of their duties under this mandate.  

Such remuneration and expenses shall be payable for the full duration of their appointment. 

All members of the panel shall receive equal remuneration, regardless of the institution by which they were appointed. 

7.    The panel shall designate its chairperson.

8.    The European experts shall be appointed for a period of three years.

Nonetheless, as regards the initial establishment of the panel under this Decision, the European Parliament shall appoint its experts for three years, the Commission for two years and the Council, the European Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee for one year so that the expertise is maintained notwithstanding the regular rotation of the expert panel.

9.    If an expert resigns or is unable to carry out their tasks before the end of their mandate, or if the European Commission terminates their contract, that expert shall be replaced by an expert in reserve for the remainder of the mandate.

10.    All experts shall declare any actual or potential conflict of interest in respect of a specific candidate city. In the event of such a declaration, or if such a conflict of interest comes to light, the expert concerned shall resign and the relevant Union institution or body or Member State shall replace that expert for the remainder of the mandate, in accordance with paragraph 9.

Article 7

Submission of applications in the Member States

1.    In accordance with the calendar set out in the Annex, each Member State shall be responsible for the organisation of the competition between its cities.

2.    The Member States concerned shall publish a call for submission of applications at least six years before the year of the title. 

Each call for submission of applications shall contain the application form referred to in Article 4(1).

The deadline for submitting applications by candidate cities under each call for submission of applications shall be scheduled at the earliest 10 months after its publication.

3.    The Member States concerned shall notify the applications to the Commission. 

Article 8

Pre-selection in the Member States

1.    Each Member State concerned shall convene the panel for a pre-selection meeting with the candidate cities no later than five years before the year of the title.

2.    The panel, after assessing the applications in accordance with the criteria, shall agree on a shortlist of candidate cities and shall issue a pre-selection report on all the applications, providing, inter alia, recommendations to the shortlisted candidate cities.

3.    The panel shall submit the pre-selection report to the Member States concerned and to the Commission.

4.    Each Member State concerned shall formally approve the shortlist based on the report of the panel.

Article 9

Selection in the Member States

1.    On the basis of the recommendations laid down in the pre-selection report, the shortlisted candidate cities shall complete and revise their applications with a view to complying with the criteria. They shall submit them to the Member State concerned, which shall in turn transmit them to the Commission.

2.    Each Member State concerned shall convene the panel for a selection meeting with the shortlisted candidate cities no later than nine months after the pre-selection meeting.

Where necessary, the Member State concerned, in consultation with the Commission, may extend that nine-month deadline for a reasonable period.

3.    The panel shall assess the completed and revised applications.

4.    The panel shall issue a selection report on the applications of the shortlisted candidate cities with a recommendation for the designation of a maximum of one city in the Member State concerned.

The selection report shall also contain recommendations to the winning city regarding the progress to be made by the year of the title.

The panel shall submit the selection report to the Member State concerned and to the Commission.

5.    Notwithstanding paragraph 4, if none of the candidate cities fulfils all the criteria, the panel may recommend that the title not be awarded for the year in question.

Article 10

Provision concerning EFTA/EEA countries, candidate countries or potential candidates for EU membership and third countries associated to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture

1.    The Commission shall be responsible for the organisation of the competition between cities in EFTA/EEA countries, candidate countries or potential candidates for EU membership, and third countries associated to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture (referred to as competitions for third countries).

2.    The Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union a call for submission of applications at least six years before the year of the title. Each call for submission of applications shall contain the application form referred to in Article 4(1). The deadline for submitting applications under each call for submission of applications shall be scheduled at the earliest 10 months after its publication.

3.    The pre-selection of the cities shall be carried out by the panel at least five years before the year of the title, on the basis of their respective applications. No meeting shall be organised with the candidate cities.

The panel, after assessing the applications in accordance with the criteria, shall agree on a shortlist of candidate cities and shall issue a pre-selection report on all the applications, providing, inter alia, recommendations to the shortlisted candidate cities. The panel shall submit the pre-selection report to the Commission.

4.    The shortlisted candidate cities shall complete and revise their applications with a view to complying with the criteria, taking into account the recommendations contained in the pre-selection report, and submit them to the Commission.

The Commission shall convene the panel for a selection meeting with the shortlisted candidate cities no later than nine months after the pre-selection meeting.

Where necessary, the Commission may extend that nine-month deadline for a reasonable period.

5.    The panel shall assess the completed and revised applications.

6.    The panel shall issue a selection report on the applications of the shortlisted candidate cities together with a recommendation for the designation of a maximum of one city in one EFTA/EEA country, candidate country or potential candidate for EU membership, or third country associated to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture.

The selection report shall also contain recommendations to the city concerned regarding the progress to be made by the year of the title.

The panel shall submit the selection report to the Commission.

7.    Notwithstanding paragraph 6, if none of the candidate cities fulfils all the criteria, the panel may recommend that the title not be awarded for the year in question.

Article 11

Designation

1.    Each Member State concerned shall designate one city to hold the title, on the basis of the recommendations contained in the selection report of the panel, and shall notify, no later than four years before the year of the title, the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions of that designation

2.    In the case of EFTA/EEA countries, candidate countries or potential candidates for EU membership, or third countries associated to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture, the Commission shall designate one city to hold the title in the relevant years, on the basis of the recommendations contained in the selection report of the panel. The Commission shall notify, no later than four years before the year of the title, the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions of that designation.

3.    The designations referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be accompanied by a justification based on the reports of the panel.

4.    Where a city involves its surrounding area, the designation shall apply to the city.

5.    Within two months of notification of designations, the Commission shall publish the list of the cities designated as ECoC in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 12

Cooperation between the designated cities

Cities designated for the same year, the year before and the year after shall seek to develop links between their cultural programmes and such cooperation may be considered in the framework of the monitoring procedure laid down in Article 13.

Article 13

Monitoring

1.    The panel shall monitor the preparation of the designated cities for the year of the title and provide them with support and guidance from the time of their designation to the end of the year of the title.

2.    To that end, the Commission shall convene four monitoring meetings which shall be attended by the panel and the designated cities, ideally:   

(a) six to nine months after the designation of the city;   

(b) 18 months before the year of the title;   

(c) six months before the year of the title;

(d) one year after the year of the title.

The respective Member State or EFTA/EEA country, candidate country or potential candidate, or third country associated to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture, may nominate an observer to attend those meetings.

The designated cities shall submit progress reports to the Commission two weeks before each monitoring meeting.

During the monitoring meetings, the panel shall take stock of the preparations and legacy-planning and give advice with a view to helping the designated cities develop a high-quality cultural programme with a strong European dimension and an effective strategy to reach this goal. The panel shall pay special attention to the recommendations laid down in the selection report and in any preceding monitoring reports referred to in paragraph 3.

3.    After each monitoring meeting, the panel shall issue a monitoring report on the state of preparations, legacy-planning and any steps to be taken.

The panel shall transmit its monitoring reports to the Commission. For competitions in the Member States, the Commission shall send them to the respective Member State, responsible for sending those reports to the designated cities. For competitions for third countries, the Commission shall send these monitoring reports directly to the designated cities.

4.    In addition to the monitoring meetings, the Commission may organise visits by the panel to the designated cities whenever necessary. It may be possible to do those visits virtually if necessary.

Article 14

Withdrawal of the title

1.    If, after a monitoring meeting or any additional visit as laid down in Article 13(4), the panel establishes that a titleholder has substantially failed to either: i) meet the criteria on the basis of which it was designated or ii) comply with the project and work plan submitted in its application, it shall initiate a dialogue with the Member State concerned via the Commission, with a view to facilitating the necessary adjustments.

2.    If the necessary adjustments have not been timely carried out, the panel shall notify the Commission of that fact. The notification shall be accompanied by a statement of reasons and shall include practical recommendations on how to improve the situation.

3.    If the practical recommendations have not been timely implemented, the panel shall issue an opinion to the Commission for the withdrawal of the title from the relevant city.

4.    In the case of a city from a Member State, the Commission shall ask the Member State to withdraw the title having due regard to the opinion referred to in paragraph 3. The Member State shall notify the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions of the reasons for the withdrawal.

5.    In the case of a city in an EFTA/EEA, candidate country or potential candidate for EU membership, or third country associated to the ‘Creative Europe – Culture’ strand of the AgoraEU programme or to the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture, the Commission shall adopt the decision to withdraw the title having due regard to the opinion referred to in paragraph 3. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions of the reasons for the withdrawal.

Article 15

Prize

1.    The Commission may award a pecuniary prize in honour of Melina Mercouri (‘the prize’) to designated cities, subject to the availability of funding under the applicable financial framework.

The prize shall be implemented in accordance with the rules of the applicable Union programmes supporting culture.

2.    Two thirds of the prize money shall be paid by the end of March of the year of the title, provided that the designated city concerned continues to honour the commitments it made at the application stage, complies with the criteria and takes into account the recommendations contained in the selection and monitoring reports.

The commitments made at the application stage shall be deemed to have been honoured by the designated city if no substantial change has been made to the programme and the strategy between the application stage and the year of the title, in particular if: 

(a) the budget has been maintained at a level capable of delivering a high-quality cultural programme in line with the application and the criteria;

(b) the independence of the artistic team has been respected;

(c) the European dimension has remained a substantial part of the final version of the cultural programme;

(d) the marketing and communication strategy and the communication material used by the designated city clearly show that the action is a Union action;

(e) the plans for the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the title on the designated city are in place.

3.    The remainder of the prize money shall be paid at the latest 24 months after the first payment, provided that the designated city concerned has solid plans for the legacy of the title year, in particular:

(a) a dedicated budget for the legacy;

(b) a follow-up artistic programme with a European dimension;

(c) marketing and communication strategies highlighting that the action is a Union action.

4.    If the withdrawal of the title defined in Article 14 happens during the title year, the part of the prize already paid shall be recovered by the Commission.

Article 16

Practical arrangements

1.    The Commission shall in particular:

(a) ensure the overall coherence of the action and provide the necessary support to the designated ECoC;

(b) ensure the coordination between the Member States and the panel;

(c) in the light of the objectives referred to in Article 2 and of the criteria referred to in Article 5, establish guidelines to assist with the selection and monitoring procedures - including the European dimension - in close cooperation with the panel;

(d) provide technical support to the panel;

(e) publish, on its website, all reports of the panel.

2.    The Commission shall coordinate the implementation of activities to support the ECoC action, in particular it shall:

(a) make public all relevant information and contribute to the visibility of the action at European and international level;

(b) foster the exchange of experience and good practices between past, present and future cities holding the title, as well as candidate cities, and promote a wider dissemination of the cities’ evaluation reports and lessons learned;

(c) coordinate and support an ECoC network of cities and provide cities with support for preparing applications, implementing their programmes, and building on their ECoC experience, including integrating it into long-term urban and policy planning, whether or not they have been awarded the title;

(d) develop targeted communication activities to enhance the visibility and reach of the ECoC action within and beyond Europe;

(e) provide information about existing European funds to the development of projects by cities including mentoring and training.

Article 17

Evaluation

1.    Each city concerned shall be responsible for the evaluation of the results of its year as an ECoC.

The Commission shall establish common guidelines and indicators for the cities concerned, based on the objectives referred to in Article 2 and on the criteria referred to in Article 5, in order to ensure a coherent approach to the evaluation procedure.

The cities concerned shall draw up their evaluation reports and submit them to the Commission by 31 December of the year following the year of the title. The Commission shall publish the evaluation reports on its website.

2.    In addition to the cities’ evaluations, the Commission shall ensure that external and independent evaluations of the results of the action are produced on a regular basis.

The external and independent evaluations shall focus on placing all past ECoC into a European context, allowing comparisons to be drawn and useful lessons to be learned for future ECoC, as well as for all European cities. Those evaluations shall include an assessment of the action as a whole, including the efficiency of the processes involved in running it, its impact and ways in which it could be improved.

The Commission shall present to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions the following reports based on those evaluations, accompanied by any relevant proposals:

(a) an initial interim report by 31 December 2038;

(b) a second interim report by 31 December 2043;

(c) an ex post report by 31 December 2048.

Article 18

Exercise of the delegation

1.    The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2.    The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 3 shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from [date of entry into force of the basic legislative act or any other date set by the co-legislators].

3.    The delegation of power referred to in Article 3 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

4.    Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.

5.    As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

6.    A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 3 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 19

Repeal and transitional provisions

Decision No 445/2014/EU is hereby repealed. It shall however continue to apply in the case of cities which have been designated or are in the process of being designated as ECoC for the years from 2020 to 2033.

Article 20

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels,

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL STATEMENT

1.FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE3

1.1.Title of the proposal/initiative3

1.2.Policy area(s) concerned3

1.3.Objective(s)3

1.3.1.General objective(s)3

1.3.2.Specific objective(s)3

1.3.3.Expected result(s) and impact3

1.3.4.Indicators of performance4

1.4.The proposal/initiative relates to:4

1.5.Grounds for the proposal/initiative4

1.5.1.Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for roll-out of the implementation of the initiative4

1.5.2.Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g. coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For the purposes of this section ‘added value of EU involvement’ is the value resulting from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise created by Member States alone.4

1.5.3.Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past5

1.5.4.Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with other appropriate instruments6

1.5.5.Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for redeployment6

1.6.Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact7

1.7.Method(s) of budget implementation planned7

2.MANAGEMENT MEASURES8

2.1.Monitoring and reporting rules8

2.2.Management and control system(s)8

2.2.1.Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed8

2.2.2.Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up to mitigate them8

2.2.3.Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure)8

2.3.Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities8

3.ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE9

3.1.Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected9

3.2.Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations10

3.2.1.Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations10

3.2.1.1.Appropriations from voted budget10

3.2.1.2.Appropriations from external assigned revenues10

3.2.2.Estimated output funded from operational appropriations10

3.2.3.Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations11

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget11

3.2.3.2.Appropriations from external assigned revenues11

3.2.3.3.Total appropriations11

3.2.4.Estimated requirements of human resources11

3.2.4.1.Financed from voted budget12

3.2.4.2.Financed from external assigned revenues12

3.2.4.3.Total requirements of human resources12

3.2.5.Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments14

3.2.6.Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework14

3.2.7.Third-party contributions14

3.3.Estimated impact on revenue14

4.Digital dimensions16

4.1.Requirements of digital relevance16

4.2.Data16

4.3.Digital solutions16

4.4.Interoperability assessment16

4.5.Measures to support digital implementation16

1.FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE 

1.1.Title of the proposal/initiative

1.2.Policy area(s) concerned 

1.3.Objective(s)

1.3.1.General objective(s)

1.3.2.Specific objective(s)

1.3.3.Expected result(s) and impact

Specify the effects which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted.

1.3.4.Indicators of performance

Specify the indicators for monitoring progress and achievements.

1.4.The proposal/initiative relates to: 

¨ a new action 

¨ a new action following a pilot project / preparatory action 34  

x the extension of an existing action 

¨ a merger or redirection of one or more actions towards another/a new action

1.5.Grounds for the proposal/initiative 

1.5.1.Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for roll-out of the implementation of the initiative

1.5.2.Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g. coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For the purposes of this section ‘added value of EU involvement’ is the value resulting from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise created by Member States alone.

1.5.3.Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past

1.5.4.Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with other appropriate instruments

1.5.5.Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for redeployment

1.6.Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact

x limited duration

–x    in effect from 01.01.2034 to 31.12.2047

–x    financial impact from 2034 to 2047 for commitment appropriations and from 2034 to 2047 for payment appropriations.

¨ unlimited duration

–Implementation with a start-up period from YYYY to YYYY,

–followed by full-scale operation.

1.7.Method(s) of budget implementation planned 

x Direct management by the Commission

–x by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations;

–x by the executive agencies

¨ Shared management with the Member States

¨ Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to:

–¨ third countries or the bodies they have designated

–¨ international organisations and their agencies (to be specified)

–¨ the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund

–¨ bodies referred to in Articles 70 and 71 of the Financial Regulation

–¨ public law bodies

–¨ bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that they are provided with adequate financial guarantees

–¨ bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with the implementation of a public-private partnership and that are provided with adequate financial guarantees

–¨ bodies or persons entrusted with the implementation of specific actions in the common foreign and security policy pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, and identified in the relevant basic act

–¨bodies established in a Member State, governed by the private law of a Member State or Union law and eligible to be entrusted, in accordance with sector-specific rules, with the implementation of Union funds or budgetary guarantees, to the extent that such bodies are controlled by public law bodies or by bodies governed by private law with a public service mission, and are provided with adequate financial guarantees in the form of joint and several liability by the controlling bodies or equivalent financial guarantees and which may be, for each action, limited to the maximum amount of the Union support.

Comments

2.MANAGEMENT MEASURES 

2.1.Monitoring and reporting rules 

2.2.Management and control system(s) 

2.2.1.Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed

2.2.2.Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up to mitigate them

2.2.3.Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure) 

2.3.Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities 

3.ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE 

3.1.Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected 

·Existing budget lines

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

Comment: N/A. The ECoC action does not have its own funds. Its budget will stem from the successor to the Creative Europe programme.

3.2.Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations

3.2.1.Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations 

The estimated impact on expenditure and staffing for 2028 and beyond is added for illustrative purposes only and does not pre-judge the next multiannual financial framework. The source of financing and scope of Union financial commitments in the post-2027 period remain subject to the outcome of interinstitutional negotiations on future MFFs and shall subsequently be determined through the annual budgetary procedure. All appropriations and staffing allocations as of 2028 are indicative.

3.2.1.1.Appropriations from voted budget

N/A.

EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.2.1.2.Appropriations from external assigned revenues

N/A.

3.2.2. Estimated output funded from operational appropriations (not to be completed for decentralised agencies)

N/A.

3.2.3.Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations 

The estimated impact on expenditure and staffing for 2028 and beyond is added for illustrative purposes only and does not pre-judge the next multiannual financial framework. The source of financing and scope of Union financial commitments in the post-2027 period remain subject to the outcome of interinstitutional negotiations on future MFFs and shall subsequently be determined through the annual budgetary procedure. All appropriations and staffing allocations as of 2028 are indicative.

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget (in EUR million)

3.2.3.3.Total appropriations (in EUR million)

3.2.4.Estimated requirements of human resources 

The estimated impact on expenditure and staffing for 2028 and beyond is added for illustrative purposes only and does not prejudge the next multiannual financial framework. The source of financing and scope of Union financial commitments in the post-2027 period remain subject to the outcome of interinstitutional negotiations on the 2028-2034 MFF and shall subsequently be determined through the annual budgetary procedure. All appropriations and staffing allocations as of 2028 are indicative.

3.2.4.1.Financed from voted budget

Estimate to be expressed in full-time equivalent units (FTEs)

3.2.4.2.Financed from external assigned revenues

N/A.

3.2.4.3.Total requirements of human resources

Considering the overall strained situation in Heading 4, in terms of both staffing and the level of appropriations, the human resources required will be met by staff from the DG who are already assigned to the management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG or other Commission services.

The staff required to implement the proposal (in FTEs):

Description of tasks to be carried out by:

3.2.5.Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments

N/A.

3.2.6.Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework 

The proposal/initiative is consistent with the proposal for the 2028-2034 MFF. 

3.2.7.Third-party contributions 

The proposal/initiative:

–x    does not provide for co-financing by third parties

–¨    provides for the co-financing by third parties estimated below:

Appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.3.    Estimated impact on revenue 

–x    The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue.

–¨    The proposal/initiative has the following financial impact:

–¨    on own resources

–¨    on other revenue

–¨    please indicate, if the revenue is assigned to expenditure lines

EUR million (to three decimal places)

For assigned revenue, specify the budget expenditure line(s) affected.

Other remarks (e.g. method/formula used for calculating the impact on revenue or any other information).

4.Digital dimensions

4.1.Requirements of digital relevance

4.2.Data

4.3.Digital solutions

4.4.Interoperability assessment

4.5.Measures to support digital implementation

(1)    OJ L 166, 1.7.1999, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1999/1419/oj .

(2)    OJ L 304, 3.11.2006, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2006/1622/oj .

(3)    Decision No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033 and repealing Decision No 1622/2006/EC (OJ L 132, 3.5.2014, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2014/445(1)/oj ).

(4)     A Culture Compass for Europe - COM(2025) 785 .

(5)     New European Bauhaus - from vision to implementation - COM(2025) 1026 .

(6)     Council Strategic Agenda 2024-2029.

(7)     Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the first interim evaluation of the European Capitals of Culture Action 2020-2033 – COM(2025) 587 .

(8)    Consultation: ECoC - interim evaluation for 2024 .

(9)     Culture Next .

(10)     Eurocities .

(11)     40 recommendations from 40 years of ECoC .

(12)    Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 389, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/char_2016/oj

(13)    OJ C , , p. .

(14)    OJ C , , p. .

(15)     A Culture Compass for Europe - COM(2025) 785 .

(16)    OJ C, C/2026/3440, 25.6.2026, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/3440/oj

(17)     UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions .

(18)    Decision No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033 and repealing Decision No 1622/2006/EC (OJ L 132, 3.5.2014, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2014/445(1)/oj ).

(19)    Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council ‘Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations’, JOIN/2016/029 final. EUR-Lex - 52016JC0029 - EN - EUR-Lex .

(20)    European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage - SWD(2018) 491 final.

(21)     Rome Declaration.

(22)     Commission Communication New European Bauhaus - from vision to implementation - COM(2025) 1026 and Council Recommendation on the New European Bauhaus .

(23)     An EU Agenda for Cities: Driving Growth and Prosperity - COM(2025)739 .

(24)     European Democracy Shield: Empowering Strong and Resilient Democracies - JOIN(2025) 791 .

(25)     Strategy on intergenerational fairness.  

(26)     Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the first interim evaluation of the European Capitals of Culture Action 2020-2033 – COM(2025) 587 .

(27)    ECoC - interim evaluation for 2024 .

(28)    Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the 'AgoraEU' programme for the period 2028-2034, and repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/692 and (EU) 2021/818 - COM(2025) 550 (subject to ongoing MFF negotiations).

(29)    Name subject to ongoing MFF negotiations.

(30)    In that context, synergies should also be encouraged with other Union initiatives recognising urban sustainability, such as the European Green Capital Award and the European Green Leaf Award.

(31)     Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on Better Law-Making (OJ L123.12.5.2016, p. 1,
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2016/512/oj ).

(32)     Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union .

(33)    This is an initiative from the Culture Compass for Europe that is currently being developed.

(34)    As referred to in Article 58(2), point (a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation.

(35)    Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations.

(36)    EFTA: European Free Trade Association.

(37)    Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidates from the Western Balkans.

(38)    As regards traditional own resources (customs duties, sugar levies), the amounts indicated must be net amounts, i.e. gross amounts after deduction of 20 % for collection costs.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 10.9.2026

COM(2026) 455 final

ANNEX

to the

Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

renewing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2034 to 2047 and repealing Decision No 445/2014/EU

ANNEX

Order of entitlement to nominate a European Capital of Culture