ORGANIZATIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE INITIATIVE

Abstract

The article analyzes the organizational and legal framework of the "European Capital of Culture" initiative. The author studies the history of the project, its legal framework and dynamics of its development from 1985 to the present time.

The European Capital of Culture (ECoC) Programme is viewed as one of the most visible and prestigious EU initiatives. It gives the city an opportunity to attract significant investment to boost its efforts in upgrading the cultural sector institutions, attracting the attention of the world community and to improve its image in the national and international levels, as well as create and promote its own unique brand. It came into being with the idea of presenting a European city as a "European City of Culture", which was offered by the Greek Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri, during the informal meeting of the Ministers responsible for Culture Affairs in Athens in November 1983.

The project itself was launched in 1985 in the form of a Ministerial Resolution (85/C 153/02) as a mainly symbolic intergovernmental initiative. At that time the European Community did not have any legislative basis to act at the level of cultural policy. At that time it was considered by the Ministers that the "European City of Culture" event should be the expression of a culture which, in its historical emergence and contemporary development, was characterized by having both common elements and a richness born of diversity. During that period the 12 EC Member States were designated the title in turn. Each state nominated a city to host the event for a year, having less than two years for preparation.

In 1990 the Conclusion of the Council of Ministers 90/C162/01 started a new ECoC cycle for the period beginning in 1997, allowing designation of cities in non-Member states as ECoC, but not altering the aims of the Programme. At the same time the Council decided to organize "European Cultural Month", the event, which was held in a different non-EC country every year from 1992 until 2003.

A significant step forward in creating a framework for the ECoC initiative was made in 1992 with the Decision 92/C336/02, which introduced the selection criteria and a clear outline of bidding deadlines for candidate cities.The

same year Article 128 of the Treaty of Maastricht presented a significant changes in cultural policy at a European level.

In 1999 the Decision 1419/99/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, transformed the event into the "European Capital of Culture". ECoC became a Community action with a first legislative framework, which was established for the years 2005 to 2019. The Decision presented new criteria, clear guidelines for the Selection Panel and a rotational system. It was also decided that the nomination must include a project with a European Dimension. Later, in

2005, this decision was amended in order to integrate ten countries that joined the EU in 2004. Further changes were made in October 24 2006 by adopting a decision 1622/2006/EC. It implemented an extended basis for, now, Selection and Monitoring Panel and updated scheme of the application process and selection criteria for candidate cities. This decision improved the objectives of the initiative and introduced a two-stage competition and expanded the members of the Selection and Monitoring Panel from 7 to 13 members.

The last decision of the European Union and the Council (445/2014 / EU), adopted on April 16, 2014, regulates the conditions, criteria and procedures for selection of "European Capital of Culture" for the period from 2020 to 2033.

It is evident, that the basic framework of the "European City of Culture" project that was launched as an international event in 1985, has developed into a well-established action of the EU with a clear legal framework, having awarded the title to approximately 50 cities in 30 countries.

Recently, Petro Poroshenko the president of Ukraine, presented "Strategy of reforms 2020", which is aimed to achieve European standards of life and prepare for the application for the EU membership in 2020. President has

identified two important programs, one of which is the further popularization of Ukraine in the world.

The implementation of this program is nothing but a matter of carrying out effective branding strategy for Ukraine. That is why the cultural sector today acquires new meaning and needs new approaches to cultural policy, as well as recognizing its role in the development of Ukrainian state.

Thus, it is concluded, that since its inception back in 1985, the ECoC Programme has grown into not only one of the best-known EU initiatives, but also into a catalyst for economic and cultural regeneration of the city, a project with a clear organizational and legal framework. "Capital of Culture" is also seen as an essential part of the process of creating a unique brand of Ukraine, which could contribute to the country's part in global integration processes, strengthening the competitive position of the state in today's globalized world