The Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastián was recommended for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2016 together with the Polish city of Wrocław. The European Capital of Culture is chosen by an independent selection panel which recommends its decision to the Council. The Council has now to appoint the two cities officially in May 2012.

The European Commissioner responsible for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou, congratulated the Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastián and remained that the competition in Spain for the 2016 title attracted 15 eligible bids – the highest we have seen since the launch of the European Capital of Culture initiative in 1985.

The 15 cities which contested the title in Spain were Alcalá de Henares, Burgos, Cáceres, Córdoba, Cuenca, Donostia-San Sebastián, Málaga, Murcia, Oviedo, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Pamplona, Santander, Segovia, Tarragona and Zaragoza. Of these, six were shortlisted: Burgos, Córdoba, Donostia-San Sebastián, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Segovia and Zaragoza.

An independent panel selects the European Capitals of Culture. 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. The programme must also have a lasting impact and contribute to the long-term cultural and social development of the city.

This year the European Capital of Culture are Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia); Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) will be European Capitals of Culture in 2012; Marseille (France) and Kosice (Slovakia) in 2013, Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014 and Mons (Belgium) and Plzen (Czech Republic) in 2015. Now, in 2016 it will be together with Donostia-San Sebastián, the Polish city of Wrocław.