Committee’s assessment |
Politically important |
Cleared from scrutiny; further information requested; drawn to the attention of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee |
|
Document details |
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending Decision No. 445/2014/EU establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033 |
Legal base |
Article 167(5), TFEU; QMV; Ordinary Legislative Procedure |
Department |
Culture, Media and Sport |
Document Number |
(37888), 10532/16 + ADD 1, COM(16) 400 |
10.1Since 1985, over 50 cities have been designated as European Capitals of Culture, two of which were in the UK (Glasgow, 1990 and Liverpool, 2008). The UK is next scheduled to host a European Capital of Culture in 2023.
10.2European Free Trade Association Countries that are parties to the European Economic Area Agreement (i.e. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) are currently excluded from participation. The Commission proposes that they be included as long as they participate in the EU’s cultural funding programme, “Creative Europe”.
10.3At its meeting of 13 July, the Committee considered the proposal to be uncontentious but noted that it assumed a new importance in the context of the EU Referendum outcome and given that the UK is due to host a European Capital of Culture in 2023. The UK would need to launch a call for applications in 2017, for which UK cities were already preparing bids.
10.4The Committee expressed its understanding that the UK’s status as an identified host Member State derives from its membership of the European Union. It set out its interpretation that the current and proposed new rules mean that the UK would only be eligible to participate if it was involved in the Creative Europe Programme and if it was either a member of the EEA through EFTA or was a candidate to accede to the EU after it had withdrawn.
10.5In a letter of 3 October 2016, the Minister for Digital and Culture, (Matthew Hancock), indicated that it was too early to say how the UK’s withdrawal from the EU would impact upon the UK’s ability to host the ECoC in 2023. Responding, the Committee reiterated two of its unanswered questions:
10.6The Minister has now written to confirm that a call for applications was published on 16 December. The Government has had some contact with cities expressing an interest in bidding.
10.7The Minister adds that a general approach was agreed at the meeting of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council on 21–22 November, but that the UK abstained as the proposal remained under scrutiny.
10.8We are grateful for the Minister’s confirmation that a call for applications has now been published. This confirmation offers clarity to the cities interested in bidding. We are reassured that the Government has been in contact with those cities.
10.9It is not clear whether the Government’s commitment amounts to a UK Government guarantee of funding in case the UK is unable to access ECoC support after it has withdrawn from the EU or whether the UK has been reassured that it can proceed as a ECoC with access to EU support. We appreciate that these are matters for the withdrawal negotiation.
10.10We clear the document from scrutiny and would welcome information on the progress of the document through the European Parliament.
10.11We draw this latest chapter to the attention of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending Decision No. 445/2014/EU establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033: (37888), 10532/16 + ADD 1, COM(16) 400.
10.12Under current rules, two Member States may host the ECoC each year based on a chronological order. Every third year, cities from candidate countries or potential candidates may participate as long as they participate in the Creative Europe funding programme. The Commission proposes that this right be extended to European Free Trade Association Countries that are parties to the European Economic Area Agreement (i.e. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). Further details on the content and background were set out in our Report of 13 July.49
10.13At its meeting of 13 July, the Committee observed the uncertainty around the UK’s right to host a European Capital of Culture in 2023 and ask for details on the Government’s plans in the light of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. The Committee reiterated its questions in a letter of 19 October.
10.14The Minister explained that, as negotiations over the UK’s exit from the EU were yet to begin, it was still too early to say how the UK leaving the EU would impact upon the UK’s ability to hold the European Capital of Culture title in 2023.
10.15The Minister informs the Committee that the Department had published a call for applications for the European Capital of Culture 2023 competition. He confirms that the Government has received some correspondence and has had some conversations with cities expressing an interest in bidding.
10.16On the negotiation of the proposal, the Minister adds:
“The Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council occurred on 21 and 22 November 2016 at which the amendment to the Decision was laid for Member States to agree a general approach. The Government laid a Written Ministerial Statement on17 November 2016 confirming the agenda and the Government’s intended approach to each of the agenda items. While the Government supports the change being proposed by the European Commission, the UK maintained a scrutiny reserve as your committee is yet to clear the proposal”.
Eighth Report HC 71-vi (2016–17), chapter 8 (13 July 2016).
23 January 2017