At its meeting in Warsaw yesterday and today , the selection panel appointed to assess the cities applying to be a European Capital of Culture in 2016 examined the many applications and recommended that the following be preselected: Gdańsk, Katowice, Lublin, Warszawa and Wrocław. Once this recommendation has been ratified by Poland, the preselected cities will have to flesh out and complete their applications by the summer of 2011. Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “The European Capital of Culture event is one of the European Union's most prestigious culture-related initiatives. It has shown its potential in terms of urban regeneration, creativity and job creation, and its attractiveness at European level. I am very pleased to see the large number of Polish cities in contention, which illustrates that this is still an important issue today. Congratulations to the preselected cities, which I would encourage to move forward with a view to the second stage of selection.” In accordance with the Decision on the European Capital of Culture event, Poland and Spain will be the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2016. The preselection meeting in Spain was held at the end of September (see IP/10/1274" target="_blank">, the selection panel appointed to assess the cities applying to be a European Capital of Culture in 2016 examined the many applications and recommended that the following be preselected: Gdańsk, Katowice, Lublin, Warszawa and Wrocław. Once this recommendation has been ratified by Poland, the preselected cities will have to flesh out and complete their applications by the summer of 2011. Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “The European Capital of Culture event is one of the European Union's most prestigious culture-related initiatives. It has shown its potential in terms of urban regeneration, creativity and job creation, and its attractiveness at European level. I am very pleased to see the large number of Polish cities in contention, which illustrates that this is still an important issue today. Congratulations to the preselected cities, which I would encourage to move forward with a view to the second stage of selection.” In accordance with the Decision on the European Capital of Culture event, Poland and Spain will be the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2016. The preselection meeting in Spain was held at the end of September (see ) and Pilsen (Czech Republic) ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1101&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1101" target="_blank">IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146" target="_blank">IP/10/1274" target="_blank">, the selection panel appointed to assess the cities applying to be a European Capital of Culture in 2016 examined the many applications and recommended that the following be preselected: Gdańsk, Katowice, Lublin, Warszawa and Wrocław. Once this recommendation has been ratified by Poland, the preselected cities will have to flesh out and complete their applications by the summer of 2011. Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “The European Capital of Culture event is one of the European Union's most prestigious culture-related initiatives. It has shown its potential in terms of urban regeneration, creativity and job creation, and its attractiveness at European level. I am very pleased to see the large number of Polish cities in contention, which illustrates that this is still an important issue today. Congratulations to the preselected cities, which I would encourage to move forward with a view to the second stage of selection.” In accordance with the Decision on the European Capital of Culture event, Poland and Spain will be the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2016. The preselection meeting in Spain was held at the end of September (see [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1274&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146) and Pilsen (Czech Republic) ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1101&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1101) in May 2011. Further information: [http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm]http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm" target="_blank">IP/10/146" target="_blank">IP/10/1274" target="_blank">, the selection panel appointed to assess the cities applying to be a European Capital of Culture in 2016 examined the many applications and recommended that the following be preselected: Gdańsk, Katowice, Lublin, Warszawa and Wrocław. Once this recommendation has been ratified by Poland, the preselected cities will have to flesh out and complete their applications by the summer of 2011. Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “The European Capital of Culture event is one of the European Union's most prestigious culture-related initiatives. It has shown its potential in terms of urban regeneration, creativity and job creation, and its attractiveness at European level. I am very pleased to see the large number of Polish cities in contention, which illustrates that this is still an important issue today. Congratulations to the preselected cities, which I would encourage to move forward with a view to the second stage of selection.” In accordance with the Decision on the European Capital of Culture event, Poland and Spain will be the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2016. The preselection meeting in Spain was held at the end of September (see [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1274&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146) and Pilsen (Czech Republic) ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1101&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1101" target="_blank">IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146" target="_blank">IP/10/1274" target="_blank">, the selection panel appointed to assess the cities applying to be a European Capital of Culture in 2016 examined the many applications and recommended that the following be preselected: Gdańsk, Katowice, Lublin, Warszawa and Wrocław. Once this recommendation has been ratified by Poland, the preselected cities will have to flesh out and complete their applications by the summer of 2011. Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “The European Capital of Culture event is one of the European Union's most prestigious culture-related initiatives. It has shown its potential in terms of urban regeneration, creativity and job creation, and its attractiveness at European level. I am very pleased to see the large number of Polish cities in contention, which illustrates that this is still an important issue today. Congratulations to the preselected cities, which I would encourage to move forward with a view to the second stage of selection.” In accordance with the Decision on the European Capital of Culture event, Poland and Spain will be the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2016. The preselection meeting in Spain was held at the end of September (see [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1274&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146) and Pilsen (Czech Republic) ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1101&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1101) in May 2011. Further information: [http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm]http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm (Source: [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1332&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr]European Commission website" target="_blank">IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146) and Pilsen (Czech Republic) ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1101&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1101" target="_blank">IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146" target="_blank">IP/10/1274" target="_blank">, the selection panel appointed to assess the cities applying to be a European Capital of Culture in 2016 examined the many applications and recommended that the following be preselected: Gdańsk, Katowice, Lublin, Warszawa and Wrocław. Once this recommendation has been ratified by Poland, the preselected cities will have to flesh out and complete their applications by the summer of 2011. Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “The European Capital of Culture event is one of the European Union's most prestigious culture-related initiatives. It has shown its potential in terms of urban regeneration, creativity and job creation, and its attractiveness at European level. I am very pleased to see the large number of Polish cities in contention, which illustrates that this is still an important issue today. Congratulations to the preselected cities, which I would encourage to move forward with a view to the second stage of selection.” In accordance with the Decision on the European Capital of Culture event, Poland and Spain will be the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2016. The preselection meeting in Spain was held at the end of September (see [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1274&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146) and Pilsen (Czech Republic) ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1101&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1101) in May 2011. Further information: [http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm]http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm" target="_blank">IP/10/146" target="_blank">IP/10/1274" target="_blank">, the selection panel appointed to assess the cities applying to be a European Capital of Culture in 2016 examined the many applications and recommended that the following be preselected: Gdańsk, Katowice, Lublin, Warszawa and Wrocław. Once this recommendation has been ratified by Poland, the preselected cities will have to flesh out and complete their applications by the summer of 2011. Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “The European Capital of Culture event is one of the European Union's most prestigious culture-related initiatives. It has shown its potential in terms of urban regeneration, creativity and job creation, and its attractiveness at European level. I am very pleased to see the large number of Polish cities in contention, which illustrates that this is still an important issue today. Congratulations to the preselected cities, which I would encourage to move forward with a view to the second stage of selection.” In accordance with the Decision on the European Capital of Culture event, Poland and Spain will be the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2016. The preselection meeting in Spain was held at the end of September (see [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1274&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146) and Pilsen (Czech Republic) ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1101&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1101" target="_blank">IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146" target="_blank">IP/10/1274" target="_blank">, the selection panel appointed to assess the cities applying to be a European Capital of Culture in 2016 examined the many applications and recommended that the following be preselected: Gdańsk, Katowice, Lublin, Warszawa and Wrocław. Once this recommendation has been ratified by Poland, the preselected cities will have to flesh out and complete their applications by the summer of 2011. Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “The European Capital of Culture event is one of the European Union's most prestigious culture-related initiatives. It has shown its potential in terms of urban regeneration, creativity and job creation, and its attractiveness at European level. I am very pleased to see the large number of Polish cities in contention, which illustrates that this is still an important issue today. Congratulations to the preselected cities, which I would encourage to move forward with a view to the second stage of selection.” In accordance with the Decision on the European Capital of Culture event, Poland and Spain will be the two Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2016. The preselection meeting in Spain was held at the end of September (see [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1274&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1274). Poland published a call for applications from interested cities at the end of 2009. Eleven cities applied: Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Lublin, Toruń, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. Their applications were examined on the basis of the criteria established in the above-mentioned Decision by an international panel consisting of 13 members: six appointed by the Member State concerned and the remaining seven by the European institutions. The panel members appointed by the European institutions are: • Nominated by the European Commission: Sir Robert Scott (United Kingdom), who headed Liverpool's successful application to be a European Capital of Culture in 2008. An expert in the culture sector, he is currently the international ambassador of the Liverpool Culture Company; Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), director-general of Graz 2003, who has managed many European projects. • Nominated by the Council: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), former member of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who currently heads various national and international cultural organisations; Constantin Chiriac (Romania), vice-president of Sibiu 2007 and currently director of the Romanian national theatre "Radu Stanca". • Nominated by the European Parliament: Andreas Wiesand (Germany), consultant and researcher in the field of cultural policy and activities; Danuta Glondys (Poland), head of the Villa Decius association, which runs many activities in the field of international culture. • Nominated by the Committee of the Regions: Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), who represents the Commission for Culture and Education of the Committee of the Regions and is a member of the Vienna City Council. Under the present procedure for designating the European Capitals of Culture, selection takes place in two stages: following this preselection stage, during which a shortlist of applicant cities is drawn up, the panel will make the final selection in summer 2011. The selected Polish city will then be officially designated by the EU Council of Ministers at its meeting in May 2012. Following Essen for the Ruhr (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey) this year, the future European Capitals of Culture will be Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) in 2011, Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) in 2012, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013, and Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014. For 2015, the EU Council of Ministers will officially designate Mons (Belgium) in November 2010 ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/146&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/146) and Pilsen (Czech Republic) ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1101&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en]IP/10/1101) in May 2011. Further information: [http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm]http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm (Source: [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1332&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr]European Commission website)