Four weeks after hearing the presentations of the candidate cities[1], the panel set up to assess the European Capitals of Culture 2010 application packages is today publishing its report. This recommends that Essen, Pécs and Istanbul be designated as "European Capitals". The decision will be taken by the Culture Council in the second half of 2006, under the Finnish presidency.

Ján Figel’, the Education and Culture Commissioner, welcomed the competitive spirit shown by the candidate cities and added that the quality of the dossiers submitted by Essen, Görlitz, Pécs, Istanbul and Kiev augured well for the Commission's wish to make the process of designating the European Capitals more open.

The panel chairman, Sir Jeremy Isaacs, praised the high overall quality of the applications.

Essen focused on regeneration of the Ruhr district through culture, thus placing its candidature in a long-term perspective. The panel's report highlights the very innovative nature of Essen's application. Essen and Görlitz had been pre-selected by a competition among 11 German cities.

Pécs emphasised the cultural links it proposed to develop with the neighbouring countries, especially in the Balkans. The theme chosen by the Hungarian city — the second centre of culture in the country after Budapest — is the "Borderless City". Hungary had put forward only one candidate, but Pécs had emerged from a competition within the country involving no less than nine cities.

Istanbul's application stressed promotion of cultural contacts at European level, and also attracted support from a broad consensus within the panel. The Turkish city centred its project on the theme "Istanbul: City of the Four Elements" — a bridge between Europe and the East. Istanbul's bid had been launched by a group of NGOs.

Further details, and the panel's full report, can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/other_actions/cap_europ/cap_eu_en.html

[1] See IP/06/301, 13 March 2006

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