Decision No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) aims at safeguarding and promoting the richness and the diversity of cultures in Europe and at highlighting the common features they share while increasing citizens' sense of belonging to a common cultural area, thus encouraging mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue, and bringing common cultural heritage to the fore. That Decision also aims at fostering the contribution of culture to the long-term development of cities, which can involve their surrounding areas, in accordance with their respective strategies and priorities, with a view to supporting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
(2)
European Capitals of Culture make a crucial contribution to promoting the values of the Union.
(3)
Networking activities should be further encouraged between past, present and future cities holding the title of European Capital of Culture in order to foster the exchange of experiences and good practices.
(4)
Decision No 445/2014/EU provides that only cities from a Member State, from a candidate country or from a potential candidate, or, subject to the conditions laid down in that Decision, from a country that accedes to the Union, have access to the Union action for the European Capitals of Culture (the ‘action’).
(5)
With a view to reinforcing the cultural links between European Free Trade Association countries which are parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (3) (‘EFTA/EEA countries’) and the Union, the action should also be open, subject to conditions, to cities from those countries in accordance with that Agreement.
(6)
However, during the period covered by Decision No 445/2014/EU, namely from 2020 to 2033, for reasons of equity with cities in the Member States that participate in the action, cities in EFTA/EEA countries should only be allowed to participate in one competition for the title. For reasons of equity with the Member States, each EFTA/EEA country should only be allowed to host the title once during that period, as is the case for candidate countries and potential candidates.
(7)
As the calls for submission of applications need to be published at the latest 6 years before the year of the title, a candidate country, potential candidate or EFTA/EEA country should host the European Capital of Culture in 2028 instead of 2027 so as to allow those countries to negotiate their participation in the Union programme supporting culture subsequent to the Creative Europe Programme for the period 2021 to 2027.
(8)
Decision No 445/2014/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,
