Wrocław (Poland) has been recommended as European Capital of Culture in 2016
An independent selection panel has recommended the Polish city of Wrocław for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2016. Poland and Spain are the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture the mentioned year. The formal nomination by the EU's Council of Ministers will take place in May 2012.
Eleven cities applied in Poland in order to become the 2016 European Capital of Culture. The European Capitals of Culture are selected by an independent panel: an initial shortlist of cities is drawn up after a pre-selection phase, followed by a final selection nine months later. The cities shortlisted were in Poland, Gdańsk, Katowice, Lublin, Warszawa and Wrocław. The two cities chosen (one per country) are then officially designated by the EU's Council of Ministers.
The European Commissioner responsible for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou, congratulated the city of Wrocław. She also wished every success to this city and urged it to see the title as part of a long term cultural strategy.
Poland and Spain are the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2016. The cities have to prepare a cultural programme with a strong European dimension and foster the participation of citizens living in the city, in its surroundings and abroad. This programme will be evaluated by a panel made up of 13 independent cultural experts; six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. They examine the applications on the basis of the criteria laid down by the European Parliament and Council decision.