Meeting of the selection panel for the European Capitals of Culture 2009

The selection panel for the European Capitals of Culture 2009 met yesterday in Brussels. Two proposals had been submitted to the European institutions in December 2004: Linz and Vilnius. Austria and Lithuania were the only Member States entitled to make proposals for 2009 in accordance with Decision 1419/1999/EC which lays down the process of designating the European Capitals of Culture (starting in 2009, two Member States per year will host a European Capital of Culture).

During the meeting, the Delegations from both candidate cities presented the planned activities for the year to the panel composed of six experts, appointed by the European Institutions. At the end of the meeting, the Chairman, Charles Hennessy, explained his satisfaction with the quality of the presentations made by the cities. He encouraged the candidate cities to further emphasize their specific assets in the elaboration of their programmes.

The panel is expected to issue shortly a formal report with recommendations to the EU institutions. The Council will designate the European Capitals of Culture for 2009 in September.

For more information :
http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/other_actions/cap_europ

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