Juryrapport Culturele Hoofdstad

S e le c tio n o f th e Eu rop e a n Ca p ita l o f Cu ltu re 2018 in th e N e th e rla n d s

THE S ELECTION P AN EL

F IN AL S ELECTION REP ORT

Am s te rd am , S e p te m be r 2013

1. In tro d u c tio n In a ccor da nce wit h t he Decision 1622/2006/E C of t h e E u r opea n Pa r lia m ent a n d t h e Cou n cil of 24 Oct ober 2006 est a blish in g a Com m u n it y a ct ion for t h e E u r opea n Capit a l of Cu lt u r e even t for t he yea r s 2007 t o 2019 (h er ein a ft er r efer r ed t o a s “t h e Decision”), a com pet it ion h a s been or ga n ised t o n om in a t e a Du t ch cit y t o t h e E ur opea n Ca pit a l of Cu lt u r e (E COC) t it le for t h e yea r 2018. Th e Cou n cil of t h e E u r opea n Un ion h a s a lr eady n om in a t ed Va let t a in Ma lt a as t he com pa n ion E COC for 2018.

Th e m a n a gin g a u t h or it y of t h e E COC com pet it ion in t h e Net h er la n ds is t h e Dut ch Min ist r y of E du ca t ion , Cu lt u r e a n d Science. Th e pr ocedu r e for im plem en t in g t his Decision in t h e Net her la n ds wa s set ou t in t h e docu m ent “Ru les of P r ocedu r e – Com pet it ion for t h e 2018 E u r opea n Ca pit a l of Cu lt u r e t it le in t h e Net h er la n ds” sign ed by t h e St a t e-Secr et a r y for E du ca t ion, Cu lt u r e a n d Science in Sept em ber 2012 (h er ein aft er r efer r ed t o a s “t h e Ru les”). Th e Min ist r y h as assign ed Dut ch Cu lt u r e, cen t r e for int er n at ion a l cooper a t ion (t h en SICA Du t ch Cen t r e for In t er n a t ion a l Cu lt ur al Act ivit ies) wit h t h e or ga n is a t ion of t he m eet ings of t h e Select ion P a n el.

In a ccor da n ce wit h t he Decision a n d t he Ru les, t h e Du t ch Min ist r y of E du ca t ion, Cu lt u r e a n d Scien ce is r esponsible for t he or ga n isa t ion of t h e E COC com pet it ion in clu din g t h e n om in a t ion of n a t ion a l exper t s for t h e Select ion P a n el, or ga n isat ion of pr e-select ion a nd fin a l select ion m eet in gs a n d coor din a t ion of visit s of t h e r epr esen t a t ives of t h e Select ion P a n el t o t h e pr e-select ed cit ies.

In a ccor da n ce wit h Ar t icle 6 of t h e Decision, t h e Select ion P a n el wa s a ppoin t ed by t he Du t ch St a t e Secr et a r y for Cu lt ur e on 25 Sept em ber 2012. It was com posed of 7 in dependen t exper t s nom in a t ed by t h e E u r opea n in st it ut ion s (2 by t h e E u r opean P a r lia m en t , 2 by t h e Cou n cil of t h e E u r opea n Un ion , 2 by t h e E u r opea n Com m ission a nd 1 by t h e Com m it t ee of t h e Region s) a n d 6 indepen den t exper t s n om ina t ed by t h e Du t ch St a t e Secr et a r y for Cult u r e. Th e P a n el elect ed Ma n fr ed Ga u lh ofer a s t h e Ch a ir a n d Nyn ke St ellin gsm a a s t h e Vice-Ch a ir . All m em ber s of t he Select ion P a n el h a ve sign ed decla r at ion s of n on -conflict of in t er est con cer n in g t h eir eva lu at ion of t h e applica t ions m a de by t h e ca ndida t e cit ies.

On 31 Decem ber 2012 t h e m a n dat es of E r n a H en n icot -Sch oepges a n d Con st a n t in Ch ir ia c (bot h m em ber s who pa r t icipat ed in t h e pr e-select ion st a ge) expir ed, a n d An u Kivilo a nd Nor ber t Riedl wer e n om in a t ed by t h e Cou n cil of t h e E u r opea n Un ion t o r epla ce t h em .

2. P re -s e le c tio n F ive Du t ch cit ies r espon ded t o t h e ca ll of applica t ions pu blish ed in Decem ber 2011 by t h e Min ist r y for t he t it le of E u r opea n Ca pit al of Cu lt u r e 2018 in t h e Net h er la nds by su bm it t in g a n a pplica t ion by t h e dea dlin e:

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Th e Ha g u e , Ein d h o v e n , Le e u w a rd e n , Ma a stric h t a n d U tre ch t .

Un der Ar t icle 7 of t he Decision , wh ich dea ls wit h t h e pr e -select ion st a ge, t h e P a n el a ssessed t h ese a pplica t ion s a ga inst t h e cr it er ia st at ed in Ar t icle 4 of t h e Decision. Th e pr e-select ion m eet in g t ook pla ce in Am st er dam on 29 a n d 30 Novem ber 2012, a n d t h e P a n el r ecom m en ded t o sh or t -list in g t h e followin g t hr ee cit ies for t h e fin a l select ion ph a se: Ein d h o v e n , Le e u w a rd e n a n d Ma a s tric h t .

F ollowin g t h e pr e-select ion m eet in g, t h e P a n el su bm it t ed a r epor t t o t h e Du t ch Min ist r y of E du cat ion , Cu lt u r e an d Science a n d t h e E u r opea n Com m ission wit h r ecom m enda t ions con cer n in g the a pplica t ions m a de by the sh or t -list ed cit ies. (h t t p://ec.eu r opa.eu /cu lt u r e/ou r -pr ogr a m m es-a nd-a ct ion s/capit a ls/com pet in gcit ies_en .ht m )

3. F in a l s e le c tio n All t h r ee cit ies su bm it t ed t h eir com plet ed applica t ions for t h e t it le of E u r opea n Ca pit a l of Cu lt ur e 2018 by t h e fin a l closin g da t e on 12 J u ly 2013.

A delega t ion of fou r P an el m em ber s visit ed t he t h r ee shor t -list ed cit ies in pr epa r a t ion of t h e fin a l select ion m eet in g: Leeuwa r den (2 Sept em ber 2013), E in dhoven (3 Sept em ber 2013) a nd Ma a st r ich t (4 Sept em ber 2013).

Th e delega t ion consist ed of t h e followin g m em ber s of t h e Select ion Pa n el: Mr s Nynke St ellin gsm a , Mr Din gem a n Ku ilm a n (r eplaced by Mr s J a n n eke va n der Wijk in Ma a st r ich t ), Sir J er em y Isa a cs a n d Mr J or di P a r do. Th e delega t ion wa s a ccom pa n ied by a r epr esen t at ive of t h e E u r opea n Com m ission (Mr Sylva in P asqu a ), a r epr esen t at ive of t h e Min ist r y of E du ca t ion , Cu lt u r e a nd Scien ce (Mr H en k H eika m p) a nd t wo r epr esen t at ives of Dut ch Cu lt u r e (Ms Ch r ist in e va n Blit t er swijk a n d Ms Soph ie Logot h et is).

Th e fin a l select ion m eet in g t ook pla ce in Am st er da m on 5 Sept em ber a n d 6 Sept em ber 2013. All 13 P a n el m em ber s pa r t icipa t ed in t h e m eet in g. Repr esent a t ives of t h e E u r opea n Com m ission (Mr Ka r el Ba r t ak, H ea d of t h e Cr ea t ive E u r ope P r ogr a m m e Cu lt u r e Un it a n d Mr Sylva in P a squ a , m a n ager of t he E u r opea n Ca pit a l of Cu lt u r e a ct ion ) a n d t h e Du t ch Min ist r y of E du ca t ion, Cu lt u r e a n d Scien ce (Mr H enk H eikam p) wer e pr esen t a s obser ver s. Du t ch Cu lt u r e wa s pr esen t for t h e or ga n isa t ion of t h e m eet in g.

Befor e t he m eet in gs wit h t h e ca ndida t e cit ies, t h e five delega t es who pa r t icipa t ed in t h e visit s t o t h e cit ies ext en sively r epor t ed ba ck t o t h e ot h er P a n el m em ber s a bou t t h eir fin din gs a n d exper ien ce m a de on locat ion.

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Th en , E in dh oven , Leeuwa r den (on 5t h Sept em ber ) a n d Ma a st r ich t (on 6t h Sept em ber ) pr esen t ed t h eir com plet ed bids t o t h e P a n el. All t h r ee cit ies wer e r epr esen t ed by loca l a u t h or it ies at t h e level of Ma yor , a ccom pa n ied by ea ch of t h e a r t ist ic t ea m s as well as r epr esen t at ives of cu lt ur a l in st it u t ions a n d t h e bu sin ess sect or , ar t ist s a n d you n g people.

Th e fin a l select ion m eet in g con sist ed of a 30-m in u t es pr esen t a t ion by t h e r epr esen t at ives of ea ch pr e-select ed cit y, followed by a 90-m in u t es qu est ion a n d a nswer session wh ich focu sed on a ll a spect s of t h e pr oposa ls . (Th is sch edu le differ ed fr om t h e in it ia l 60 m in u t es for t h e qu est ions a nd a nswer s session a s st a t ed in t he Ru les. Th e P a n el r equ est ed t o ext en d t h is t o 90 m in u t es an d a ll t h r ee pr e -select ed cit ies a ppr oved).

In it s in t er n a l deba t e t h a t followed t h e pr ese nt a t ions, t he P a n el car r ied ou t a n in -dept h a ssessm en t of t h e infor m a t ion pr ovided by t h e ca n dida t e cit ies in t h eir bidbooks , t h e feedback on t h e visit s, t h eir or a l pr esen t at ion s a n d a n swer s pr ovided t o t h e exper t s’ qu est ions du r in g t h e h ea r in gs. It wa s clea r t o t h e P a n el t h a t con sider able effor t h ad been m a de by a ll t h r ee cit ies t o u pda t e t h eir applicat ions a n d t o t ake a ccou n t of t he r ecom m en dat ions put for wa r d by t h e P a n el in t h e pr e-select ion r epor t . To eva lu a t e t h e bids, t he P a n el: 

t h or ou gh ly eva lu a t ed t h e ext en t t o wh ich t h e ca n didat e cit ies m et t he object ives of t h e E u r opea n Capit a l of Cu lt u r e in it ia t ive, a s set out in Ar t icle 3 of t h e Decision, a n d t h e cr it er ia defined in Ar t icle 4 of t he Decision , n a m ely “t h e E u r opean Dim ension” a n d t h e “Cit y a n d Cit izens” dim en sion ;

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a ssessed t h e qu a lit y of t h e r esponses pr ovided by t h e cit ies t o t he qu est ion s in clu ded in t h e a pplica t ion for m ;

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con sider ed t h e over a ll ca pa cit y of t h e cit ies t o en su r e t h e im plem en t a t ion of t he even t , n ot a bly t he gover n a n ce, t h e budget , t h e su ppor t of loca l a n d r egion a l a u t h or it ies a n d t h e bu sin ess sect or .

F ollowin g t h e fin al select ion m eet in g (a t 4.30 p.m . on 6 Sept em ber 2013), a pr ess con fer en ce wa s h eld at F elix Mer it is in Am st er da m t o a n n ou n ce t h e r esult of t h e select ion pr ocess. At t h e pr ess con fer en ce, t h e Du t ch Min ist er for E du cat ion , Cu lt ur e a nd Scien ce, Mr s J et Bu ssem a ker , was h a nded over t h e r ecom m en da t ion by t h e Ch a ir of t h e P a n el, Mr Ma n fr ed Ga ulh ofer .

4. Th e Ev a lu a tio n by th e S e le c tio n P a n e l Th e P a n el n ot ed t h a t t h e select ion of t h e Dut ch E u r opea n Ca pit a l of Cu lt u r e 2018 wa s a difficu lt ch oice du e t o t h e in t en sive a n d t ou gh com pet it ion bet ween t h e t h r ee excellen t ca n didat e cit ies. All t h r ee cit ies, while pr oposing ver y differ en t a ppr oa ch es for t h e E COC even t , pr ovided t h e P an el wit h t hr ee ver y convin cin g a n d well pr epar ed bid docu m en t s t h a t sh owed evidence of a t h or ou gh pla n n ing t a kin g in t o a ccou n t t h e m u lt it u de of a spect s n eeded t o be con sider ed wh en h ost in g su ch a n im por t a n t event .

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Th e P a n el em ph asised t h a t t h e gr eat effor t s in vest ed by a ll t hr ee cit ies wou ld be ben eficial t o ea ch on e, wh a t ever t h e fin a l r esult of t h e com pet it ion wou ld even t u a lly be, a s t h ey wou ld cont r ibut e t o st r en gt h en in g t h e r ole of cu lt u r e in t h e cit ies’ developm en t st r at egies a n d st im u la t in g a n d en r ich in g t h eir cu lt u r a l life. Th e P a n el fu r t h er n ot ed t he ca r efu l wor k u n der t a ken by each ca ndida t e cit y t o t ake in t o a ccou n t t h e r ecom m en dat ions for m u la t ed in it s pr e-select ion r epor t . Th e t ext s of t h e bid docum en t s wer e, of cou r se, fur t h er t est ed dur in g t h e pan el's cit y visit s a n d a t t h e Qu est ion a nd An swer sessions.

Th e P a n el h igh ligh t ed t h e followin g ch a r a ct er ist ics of E in dh oven’s, Leeu wa r den ’s a nd Ma a st r ich t ’s bids.

Ein d h o v e n Un der t h e sloga n “Im agin a t ion designs E u r ope” t he cit y of E in dh oven pr esen t ed it self t oget h er wit h t h e four ot h er cit ies of Br a ba n t St a d a n d t h e pr ovin ce of Br a ba nt , a ddr essin g a n d developin g fu r t h er t h e quest ion s r a ised in t h e pr e -select in g ph a se.

E in dh oven ’s bid wa s built a r ou n d t h r ee m ain t h em es: 

We E xplor e t h e F u t u r e

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We Con n ect P eople

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We Make t h e Cit y

Th e P a n el u n der st ood fr om t he pr esen t at ion t h a t t h e cit y of E in dh oven a n d it s su r r ou ndin g a r ea h a ve been a wa r ded t it les like t h e on e of being t h e In t elligen t Com m u n it y of t h e Year 2011 or t he on e of bein g t h e m ost in vent ive cit y in t h e wor ld in 2013, bu t t h e E COC bid pr ovided for t h e oppor t u n it y t o r einfor ce t he st ill in sufficien t r ole of ar t a nd cu lt u r e in t he cit y as well a s t o fu r t h er con n ect a r t a n d cu lt u r e wit h cr ea t ivit y, in n ova t ion, t ech n ology a n d scien ce t h a t a r e syn on ym ou s for t h e l ife in t he cit y. Th e E in dhoven delega t ion point ed out t he n eed for t h e cit y t o r edefin e it self as a cu lt u r a l h u b, su ppor t ed by t h e a r t ist s, cit izen s a n d scient ific cen t r es pr esen t in t he r egion .

Th e cor e of t he E in dh oven a ppr oa ch is t h e con cept of “P r oeft uin en” (best t o be t r a n sla t ed by “exper im ent a l ga r den s”) t h at wou ld a ct a s cr ea t ive la bor at or ies - based on a “m u lt iple h elix” m odel m ixin g a ll t ypes of st a keholder s inclu din g t h e a r t com m un it y, t h e busin ess sect or , scien ce a n d t h e cit izen s – a n d wou ld give a m ple r oom for exper im en t a t ion a n d for t h e gen er a t ion of cu lt u r a l a n d societ a l in n ova t ion . Th e P r oeft u in concept was illu st r a t ed by a sh or t pr esen t a t ion on t h e P r oeft u in E xper ien ce Cent r e: a cen t r al pla ce t o visit t he m et h od, pr ocess a nd out com es of t h e P r oeft u inen . “Pr oeft u in en” gen er a t ed pr oject s wou ld con t r ibut e a bou t a t h ir d of t h e t ot a l pr ogr am m e, a sign ifica n t pr opor t ion . An ch or pr oject s, developed in a m or e t r adit ion a l m a n a gem en t a ppr oa ch , would fill t h e r est of t h e pr ogr a m m e.

Th e P a n el pr a ised t h e com bin a t ion of a r t s, design , t ech n ology a nd scien ce as pr esent ed

by E in dh oven . Th e P a n el wa s a lso ver y posit ively im pr essed by t h e h igh level of 4

com m it m en t of t h e cit y, kn owledge inst it ut es an d t h e bu sin ess sect or t o en ga ge wit h ar t a n d cu lt u r e. It wa s a lso eviden t for t h e P a n el t h a t t h e bid was a n excellen t ou t com e of t h e h u ge effor t s a n d invest m ent s m ade in, a nd t h e su ccess exper ienced by, t h e r egion over t h e pa st yea r s, a nd wa s clea r ly r oot ed in t h e cit y's lon g-t er m developm ent st r a t egy.

Th e P a n el wa s a lso im pr essed wit h t h e st r ong will of t h e cit y t o becom e a showca se of h ow t o live in a difficu lt post -indu st r ia l t im e u sin g cu lt u r e t o ch an ge t h e cit y a n d im pr ove livin g con dit ion s.

Th e P a n el n ot ed t h a t t h e bidbook wa s ver y well st r u ct ur ed a nd offer ed a clear a n d wellpr epar ed pla n for t he yea r s leadin g t o 2018 a s well as t h e yea r of t h e t it le, dem onst r at in g t h er eby a la r ge pot en t ial. It welcom ed t h e idea of pilot edit ion s of lar ge a n ch or pr oject s fr om 2014 on wa r d as well as t h e concept in t er im pr esen t at ion s in t he for m of bien n ales.

Wh ile pr a isin g t h e P r oeft u in con cept a s a pot en t ia lly ver y int er est in g exper im en t a l m et h od wit h h igh cr ea t ive pot en t ia l, t h e P an el felt t h a t t h e wa y it wou ld pr odu ce in n ova t ive r esu lt s ba sed on a t r u ly in n ova t ive a ppr oach h a d n ot been pr esen t ed con vin cin gly en ou gh eit h er in t h e bid -book n or dur in g t h e h ea r in g. Th e P a n el’s im pr ession wa s t h a t t h e P r oeft u in en wou ld n ot be as explor a t ive a s on e cou ld h a ve expect ed, du e t o t h e ada pt a t ion of wh at seem ed a linea r in n ovat ion pr oce ss lackin g r oom for fu zzin ess. It a lso r em a in ed u n clea r h ow t h e qu a lit y a n d coh er ence of t h e pr oject s wou ld be dir ect ed. Th e P a n el was t h er efor e scept ica l a bou t t h e P r oeft uin m et h od’s a bilit y t o fully deliver it s cla im ed pot en t ia l.

Th e "Cit y a n d Cit izen s" dim ension of t h e E in dh oven bid t h a t wa s con n ect ed t o a la r ge ext en t t o t h e P r oeft u in m et hod wa s n ot a s con vin cin g a s one could h a ve wish ed eit h er .

Th e P a n el a ckn owledged t h a t t h e pr ogr a m m e was la r gely focused on pr ofession a l in n ova t ion especia lly in design , but it felt at t h e sam e t im e t h a t it la cked a bot t om -up a ppr oach , deeply r oot ed in t he cit y’s popu la t ion .

As for t h e E u r opea n dim en sion, it seem ed t o t h e P a n el it was u n der explor ed. Th e link bet ween in n ova t ion a n d t h e E u r opea n Dim ension was n ot m a de su fficient ly clea r a n d t h er e was n o st r on g r efer ence in t h e pr ogr am m e t o ot h er E u r opean cit ies or r egions fa cin g t h e sa m e ch a llenges E in dh oven cur r en t ly is. Th e P a n el was given t h e im pr ession t h a t E in dh oven wish ed t o pr ofile it self r a t h er a s a globa l cit y t h a n a E u r opea n cit y.

Alt h ou gh it wa s m a de clea r wh at E u r ope ca n lea r n fr om E in dh oven, pr esen t ed a s a "t est cit y" for t h e r est of t h e con t in ent , t h e ot h er wa y a r ou n d sh ou ld h a ve been h igh ligh t ed m or e.

As a wh ole, t h e pr ogr am m e ou t side of t h e P r oeft u in en, a lb eit of h igh qu a lit y, st r uck t he P a n el a s n ot bein g t h e m ost in n ova t ive t h e cit y of E in dh oven cou ld br in g for wa r d a s t h e E u r opea n Capit a l of Cult u r e.

Le e u w ard e n Leeu wa r den ’s cen t r a l m ot t o h a d been sh ift ed fr om “Mien skip” t o “Iepen Mienskip” a t fin a l select ion st a ge, wit h “Mien skip” bein g a collect ive F r isia n t er m for va lu es su ch a s 5

m u t u a l r espect , equ alit y a n d r esponsibilit y in t h e com m u n it y. Th e Leeu wa r den t eam poin t ed ou t t ha t t h ese a r e t h e va lu es t h a t in spir e E u r opea ns ever y da y a nd con sequ ent ly, Mien skip h a d in spir ed t h e en t ir e bid a s a veh icle of beh a viou r a l ch a n ge a n d im pr oved cooper a t ion in t h e wh ole of E u r ope.

Leeu wa r den consider ed t h r ee t h em a t ic dom a in s t o be of h igh est r eleva n ce bot h t o E u r ope as a wh ole a n d t o Leeuwa r den a n d F r isia : 

Na t u r e a n d Cu lt u r e

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Cit y a n d Cou nt r yside

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Com m u n it y a n d Diver sit y

Leeu wa r den ’s pr esen t at ion was su ppor t ed by a video fea t u r in g you n g people fr om sever a l E u r opea n cou nt r ies ba ckin g t h eir bid. Th ey a lso sh owed t h e willin gn ess of t he pu blic t o (a ct ively) pa r t icipa t e in t h e bu ild-u p t o 2018.

Th e P a n el was im pr essed by t h e pr ogr ess m ade by t h e cit y in fu r t h er developin g m a n y a spect s of t h e in it ia l bid in lin e wit h t h e r ecom m enda t ions offer ed in t h e pr e -select ion ph a se.

In pa r t icu la r , t h e P a n el pr a ised t h e in n ova t ive a n d a u t h en t ic wa y t h e Leeu wa r den bid t r ied t o a ddr ess som e of t h e m ost pr essin g issu es t h at a r e bot h com m on t o loca l, m a in ly r u r a l, com m u nit ies a ll over E u r ope a n d E u r opea n in t h eir essen ce t hr ou gh cu lt u r e. Th e focu s on issu es su ch a s t h e r e-eva lu a t ion a n d r e-defin it ion of t h e r elat ion sh ip bet ween cit y a n d t h e cou nt r yside, t h e n eed t o fu r t h er pr om ot e a n d fost er cu lt u r a l a nd en vir on m en t a l sust a ina bilit y, a n d t h e open in g-u p of h ist or ica lly ver y coh esive a nd in wa r d-lookin g com m un it ies wa s welcom ed by t h e P a n el a s bein g a n a u t h en t ic a nd desir a ble object ive.

Th e bid a lso dir ect ed t he P a n el's a t t ent ion t o t h e pr oblem of livin g wit h r isin g sea -levels in a n er a of clim at e ch an ge.

Th e E u r opea n Dim en sion wa s well cover ed by t h e ba sic a ppr oa ch of focu sin g on issu es im por t a n t t o com m u n it ies a n d people in a ll Eu r opea n cou nt r ies a n d by t h e a ddit ion a l m ot t o of “cr iss-cr ossin g com m u n it ies”, a con cept t h a t wa s well r eflect ed in a n u m ber of pr oject s pr esen t ed. Mor eover , Leeu war den con vin cin gly expr essed t h e u r ge t o r edefin e E u r ope a s a socia l n et wor k of diver se com m u n it ies.

Th e in spir at ion of na t u r e on m a nkin d t r a n spir ed t h r ou gh ou t t h e bid a n d t h e pr esen t a t ion a n d was a st r on g point of t h e Leeu wa r den bid, especially t h e con nect ion wit h ot h er wet la n ds in E u r ope a n d sim ila r ‘Mien skip s’ a cr oss t h e cont in en t . Th e P a n el a lso a ppr eciat ed t he pr om inen t posit ion of t h e r ole of lesser -used a n d m in or it y la n gu a ges in E u r ope an d t h e con nect ion t h e pr ogr a m m e int en ds t o bu ild wit h ot her m in or it y cu lt u r es speakin g t h eir r espect ive m in or it y la n gu a ges in ot h er E u r opean cou n t r ies.

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Th e P a n el a lso was im pr essed by t he focus of t h e h olist ic a n d in t elligen t concept of t he Leeu wa r den bid on t he fu t u r e, in n ova t ion a nd you n g people r a t h er by doin g t h a n by t a lkin g a bout t h ese issues. You n g people a r e a t t h e cor e of t he bid, in t h e or ga n isa t ion of t h e even t as well a s com m u n ica t ion. Th e pr ogr a m m e t a r get s loca l com m u n it ies a ll over E u r ope usin g in n ova t ive m et hods a n d t ech n ologies. It is con cen t r a t ed on issu es im por t a n t for t h e fu t u r e of people livin g in E ur ope m or e t h a n in t h e pa st a n d even t h e pr esen t . Th e P a n el wa s im pr essed by t h e scope a n d a m bit ion set out in t h e eva lu a t ion a n d m on it or in g object ives, pr esent ed in a SMART for m a t .

Th e P a n el a lso t h ou gh t t h a t t h r ou gh t h e m a n y E u r opea n a n d in t er n a t ion a l pa r t n er sh ips developed in t h e la st few m on t hs, t h e bid h a d n ow r ea ch ed a cr it ica l m a ss in t er m s of pr oject s a n d pot en t ia l au dien ces.

Th e "Cit y a nd Cit izens" dim en sion was well cau gh t n ot only by t h e Mien skip m ot t o, but a lso by t h e eviden t en t h u siasm t hr ou gh ou t t h e pr oject of en ga gin g wit h cit izens.

P a r t icipat ion a n d in clu sion a r e key t o t he Leeu wa r den a ppr oach (in clu din g a n im pr essive u se of volun t eer s) a n d in spir es all pa r t s of t h e pr oject ; t h e Leeu wa r den pr ogr a m m e sh ows m a ny pla n s t o con n ect t he cit izens, in pa r t icu la r you n g people a nd m igr a n t com m u n it ies, bot h t o t h e E COC pr oject a n d t o ea ch ot h er wit h in t h e r egion a n d a cr oss bor der s t o t h e wh ole of E ur ope. Th e P a n el n ot ed t h e specific pr ogr a m m es t o in t egr a t e a n d en ga ge t he P olish wor ker s n ow in t h e Leeu war den com m u n it y.

Th e P a n el point ed ou t t h a t a lot of pr ogr ess h a d been m a de in t h e st r u ct u r in g of t he or ga n isa t ion of Leeuwa r den 2018 since pr e-select ion st a ge, eviden cin g t h e t ea m 's com m it m en t a n d openn ess t o lear n fr om t h e ou t er wor ld . H owever , m or e wor k was n eeded t o set u p a st r on g deliver y fou n da t ion for t h e im plem en t a t ion of a pr ogr a m m e of t h e sca le of a E u r opean Ca pit a l of Cu lt u r e. Th e P a n el a lso n ot ed t h a t t h e per iph er al loca t ion of Leeuwa r den (bot h geogr a ph ica l a n d cu lt u r a l) wou ld pr ove t o be a ch a llen ge t o m a kin g t h e pr ogr a m m e a su ccess t hr ou gh ou t E u r ope.

Ma a s tric h t Ma a st r ich t ’s m ission wa s “E u r ope Revisit ed”, wr it in g t h e “lost ch apt er” on cu lt ur e in t h e 1992 E U Tr ea t y of Maa st r ich t . Ma ast r ich t applied for t h e t it le wit h t h e suppor t of t h e en t ir e E u r egion Meu se-Rh in e wh ich cover s 10.500 km ² in t h r ee cou n t r ies wit h t h r ee differ en t la n gu a ges, t hr ee differ ent polit ica l a nd a dm in ist r a t ive syst em s), a n d com pr ises a popu la t ion of 3,9 m illion in h a bit a n t s. Th e bid was su ppor t ed by t he join t st a t em ent sign ed by t h e 13 a ut h or it ies r epr esen t in g t h e E u r egion , Th e bid a im ed a t bu ildin g on t h e t igh t cu lt u r al a n d h ist or ica l r ela t ions bet ween t h e cit ies of t he cr oss-bor der ar ea t o m ake t h is r egion becom e one h ear t in E u r ope, wh er e or din a r y cit izens wou ld en joy "E u r ope" in t h eir da ily lives. Th e E COC t it le wou ld be t h e livin g pr oof of t his a m bit ion .

Th e followin g four pr ogr a m m e lin es wer e used a s t hem es of “Eu r ope Revisit ed”: 

Spea kin g in Ton gu es 7

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Rem em ber in g t he F u t ur e

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Mir r or in g E u r ope

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Livin g E u r ope.

In or der t o pr epa r e t he gr ou n d for t h e pr ogr a m m e ba sed on t h ese fou r t h em es in t he yea r s befor e t h e event , Ma a st r ich t in t r odu ced t h e con cept of a “E u r opea n Spr ing J ou r n ey” in t h e secon d bid book. Th is shou ld act a s a cen t r a l h u b for t h e pr ogr a m m e a n d a t t h e sa m e t im e h elp set t in g sails “t o con qu er E u r ope in a fr esh n ew wa y”. It was a lso m a de clea r in t h e secon d bid book t h a t t h e pr ogr a m m e sh ou ld r at h er be r ea d as a m et h od t h a n as a collect ion of sin gle a ct ivit ies.

Th e P a n el was im pr essed by t h e specia l im por t a n ce t h a t was la id b y Ma a st r ich t on “Gén ér a t ion Ma a st r icht ”, you n g people bor n in 1992 a n d wh o wou ld be t h e sym bol a nd t h e face of Ma a st r icht 2018. Gén ér a t ion Maa st r ich t was a lso r eflect ed in t he t ea m pr esen t in g t h e bid t o t h e P a n el a n d you t h u n em ploym en t wa s on e of t h e foca l issu es r a ised by t h e Ma a st r icht bid.

Th e E u r opea n Dim en sion was best r eflect ed by Ma a st r ich t ’s cooper a t ion wit h in t he E u r egion . Th e P a n el a ppla u ded t h e a m bit ion , t he willin gn ess a n d t h e st r on g com m it m en t of t h e ent ir e cr oss -bor der r egion a n d of it s cit ies t o wor k t oget h er , collect idea s a n d con t r ibu t e t o t h e bu dget of t h e E COC even t .

Th e cr oss-bor der cooper a t ion , addr essin g local a s well as E u r opea n issu es wit h t he in t en t ion t o a dd a cu lt ur a l dim en sion t o t h e Tr ea t y of Ma ast r ich t a nd t h e det er m in at ion t o give cu lt u r e a m or e pr om inen t place in E u r opea n policy was gr ea t ly welcom ed by t h e P a n el.

H owever t h e P a nel felt t h a t t h e pr oject as a wh ole lacked a clea r , con cr et e a n d well con st r u ct ed a r t ist ic vision a bou t h ow cu lt u r e m a y h elp m akin g E u r ope a bet t er pl a ce t o live in , a n d especia lly in cr ea t in g em ploym en t for t h e yout h . Th er efor e i t r em ain ed a lso u n clea r h ow t h e va r iou s elem ent s of t he pr ogr a m m e wou ld be sh aped t o a com m on E u r opea n per spect ive. Th e idea t h a t t h e ou t com es of t h e "E u r opean Spr in g J ou r n ey" cor e pr oject – t o be r ea lised in t h e r u n n in g-u p yea r s – wou ld feed m a n y differ en t pr oject s wa s felt a s a wa y t o out sou r ce t h e a r t ist ic vision . As a r esu lt , t h e P a n el felt t h er e wa s a m ism a t ch bet ween t h e bid's ver y a m bit ious a spir at ions a n d t h e m a n y (r a t h er sm a ll sca le) pr oject s in cluded in t h e bid.

As wit h r egar d t o t he "Cit y a n d Cit izens" dim ension, t h e bid h igh ligh t ed am ple pa r t icipa t ion , but m ost ly r ela t ed wit h a t op -down a ppr oach . Th e con cept of in volving Gén ér at ion Ma a st r icht bot h in pr ogr am m e developm en t a n d t he or ga n isat ion of Ma a st r ich t 2018 sh owed gr ea t pot en t ia l a n d t he P a n el a ppr ecia t ed t h at t h e in volvem ent of you n g people was m ea n t t o give t h e r egion a boost wh ich it - dem on st r a bly - n eeds.

H owever , it wa s n ot clea r t o t h e P a n el wh a t it s a ct u a l r ole in t h e or ga n isa t ion wou ld exa ct ly be n or a con t in u in g lega cy of t h e P a n el in su bsequ en t decision m a kin g a cr oss t he r egion .

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Alt h ou gh t h e Ma ast r ich t bid is a bou t livin g in E u r ope, t h e P a n el felt t h e bid la cked a focu s on m in or it ies a n d t h eir r ole in a diver sified E u r ope. Th e bid in deed r a ised t he qu est ion if t h e par t icipa t in g cit ies a n d t h e r egion cou ld be t aken a s a pa r s pr o t ot o of E u r ope.

Alt h ou gh t h e r epr esen t a t ives of Ma a st r icht 2018 wer e well pr epa r ed t o expla in h ow t h ey wou ld m a n a ge t h e com plexit y of t he Ma ast r ich t bid in geogr a ph ica l, a dm in ist r at ive a n d in st it ut ion a l t er m s, t h e P a n el wa s n ot fu lly convin ced t h a t a ll a r t ist ic a n d or ga n isat ion al ch a llen ges of t h is m u lt idim ension a l appr oa ch wou ld fin a lly su ppor t t h e qu a lit y of t h e pr ogr a m m e.

D e c is ion All m em ber s of t he P a n el pr a ised a ll t h r ee cit ies for t h eir wor k t o pr ovide com pellin g fin a l bids for t h e E COC 2018 com pet it ion a n d t h a n ked t h em for t h eir effor t s t o pr ovide it wit h ext en sive in for m at ion a bou t t h eir pr oject s a t t h e select ion ph ase, a ls o du r in g t h e visit s.

Du r in g t h e fin a l deliber a t ions of t he P a n el, t h e st r en gt h s a nd wea kn esses of t h e a pplicat ions a s viewed by t h e P a n el m em ber s wer e a ssessed ver y ca r efu lly. Th e discussion focused on t h e cr it er ia la id down in Ar t icle 4 of t h e Decision , on t h e qu a lit y a n d su st a in a bilit y of t h e cu lt u r a l pr ogr am m es a s well as on t h e capa cit y of ea ch pr e select ed cit y t o deliver a su ccessfu l even t in lin e wit h t he h igh st a nda r d r equ ir em en t s a n d visibilit y of t h e E COC t it le.

F ollowin g deba t e t h e P a n el vot ed u n a n im ously t h a t one ca n dida t e cit y best m et t he object ives a n d cr it er ia of t h e E COC even t , a nd t h a t it pr ovided t h e best pot ent ia l a n d ca pa cit y for t h e or gan iza t ion of a n im pact fu l pr ogr am m e. Th e P a n el t h er efor e r ecom m en ds t h a t t h e followin g cit y in t h e Net h er la n ds be design a t ed a s t h e E u r opea n Ca pit a l of Cu lt u r e 2018 Le e u w ard e n .

In a ddit ion t o t h e t r a nsla t ion of E u r ope int o com m u n it ies of va lues an d people a nd t he clea r ly dem onst r a t ed in volvem en t of cit izen s, t h e P a n el pa r t icu la r ly a ppr ecia t ed Leeu wa r den ’s h olist ic bot t om -u p a ppr oa ch an d t h e u n it y in t h e m a n a gem en t of t h e pr ogr a m m e.

Th e P a n el r ecom m en ded E in dh oven a n d Ma a st r ich t t o t ake m a xim um a dva n t a ge of t he wor k a lr eady u n der t a ken in pr epar a t ion of a n d du r in g t h e com pet it ion by con t in u in g t h e cooper at ion wit h t h e cult u r a l sect or a nd con sider in g it a s a n im por t a nt a ct or in t h e cit y’s a n d t h e r egion’s developm en t .

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5. Re c o m m e n d a tio n s o f th e S e le c tion P an e l to th e n o m in a te d c ity In a ccor da n ce wit h Ar t icle 8, P a r a gr a ph 4 of t h e Decision , t h e P a n el m a kes t h e followin g r ecom m en dat ions t o Leeu wa r den r ega r din g t he pr ogr ess t o be m ade a n d t h e wor k t o be ca r r ied ou t in a dva n ce of 2018. Th ese issu es will be t a ken u p a t t h e in for m a l post design a t ion m eet in g in a u t u m n 2014. Leeu war den is r em inded t h a t t h e pr ogr am m e i n t h e bidbook n ow for m s t h eir com m it m en t for 2018. 

Leeu wa r den 2018 is r ecom m en ded t o u se t h e m om ent u m cr eat ed by it s n om in a t ion t o st a r t focusin g it s effor t s on a ct u a lly t u r n in g Mien skip in t o Iepen Mien skip - a t ask wh ich will t a ke yea r s t o be su ccessfu lly a ch ieved;

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Alt h ou gh m u ch pr ogr ess wa s m a de in t h e fin a l select ion st a ge, addit ion a l wor k will n eed t o be don e t o fur t her r ein for ce t h e m a n a gem en t st r u ct ur e of t h e or ga n isa t ion of Leeu wa r den 2018;

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E ffor t s will h a ve t o be m a de t o pu t Leeu war den m or e on t h e E u r opean m a p as such a n d a s a r egion t h at is h a vin g ver y m uch in com m on wit h m a n y ot h er E u r opea n r egion s wh en it com es t o sh ape t h e fu t u r e of E ur ope;

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Th e level of h igh in volvem en t a n d par t icipa t ion sh ou ld be sca led u p fr om t h e loca l t o a E u r opea n level;

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Th e P a n el r ecom m en ds Leeu wa r den 2018 t o lin k u p wit h Um ea 2014 r ega r din g t h e co-cr ea t ion a spect of it s pr ogr a m m e developm en t in or der t o lea r n fr om Um ea’s exper ien ce;

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Leeu wa r den h a s ch osen t o pu t a you n g gen er a t ion a t fr on t t h at is u sed t o or ga n ise even t s a n d pr ocesses in lin e wit h cu r r en t st at e of in for m a t ion a n d com m u n ica t ion t ech n ology a n d in wh ich offlin e a nd on lin e r ea lit y a r e fu lly int egr a t ed. Th e P a n el r ecom m en ds Leeu war den t o give t h e you n g gen er a t ion a lso a cor e pla ce in t he fu r t h er or ga n isat ion of t h e E CoC in or der t o st a y u p t o it s pr om ises m a de at select ion st a ge;

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Th e digit a l a spect t h a t is in t en ded t o be a foca l pa r t of each a n d ever y pr oject sh ould becom e visible a nd t a n gible fr om t h e st a r t of a ct u a l pr oject developm ent ;

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Th e bu dget sh ould be cla r ified in a wa y t h a t a nswer s t h e few qu est ions left open .

6. N e x t s te p s to w a rd s th e d e s ig n a tion In a ccor da nce wit h Ar t icle 8 of t h e Decision , t h e pr esen t r epor t h as been su bm it t ed t o t h e Com m ission a n d t o t h e Du t ch Min ist r y of E du ca t ion, Cu lt ur e a nd Scie nce a nd sh a ll be pu blish ed on t h e Com m ission ’s websit e.

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Th e Du t ch Min ist r y of E du ca t ion, Cu lt u r e a nd Scien ce will for m a lly n om in a t e one cit y for t h e E u r opea n Ca pit a l of Cu lt u r e t it le for 2018 in t h e Net h er la n ds on t h e ba sis of t his r epor t a n d will n ot ify t h e E u r opea n P a r liam ent , t h e Cou n cil of t he E ur opea n Un ion , t h e E u r opea n Com m ission a n d t h e Com m it t ee of t h e Region s by t h e en d of t h e yea r 2013 at t h e la t est . Th e E u r opea n P a r lia m ent m a y for war d a n opin ion t o t h e E u r opea n Com m ission wit h in t h r ee m on t h s a ft er it r eceives t h e n om in a t ion.

Th e Cou n cil of t h e E u r opea n Un ion, u pon a r ecom m en dat ion of t h e E u r opea n Com m ission dr a wn u p ba sed on t h e opin ion of t h e E ur opea n P a r lia m en t a n d t h e ju st ifica t ion ba sed on t h e Select ion P a n el’s r epor t , will for m a lly design a t e t h e E u r opea n Ca pit a l of Cu lt u r e 2018 in t he Net h er la n ds.

7. Mo n ito rin g p h a s e In a ccor da n ce wit h Ar t icle 10 of t h e Decision, t h e E u r opea n Capit a l of Cu lt u r e 2018, on ce design a t ed by t he E U Cou n cil of Min ist er s, will be su bm it t ed t o a m on it or in g ph ase u n t il t he begin n in g of t h e even t .

Th e Mon it or in g a n d a dvisor y P a n el will be com pr ised of t h e seven m em ber s n om in at ed by t h e E u r opea n in st it u t ions. Leeuwa r den sh a ll be in vit ed t o an in for m a l post design a t ion m eet in g in la t e 2014. Th e fir st for m a l m on it or in g m eet ing will t a ke pla ce by la t e 2015 a n d t h e fin a l on e by spr in g 2017.

On t he basis of t h e r epor t issued by t h e Mon it or in g a n d a dvisor y P a nel a ft er it s secon d for m al m on it or in g m eet in g, a P r ize “in h on ou r of Melin a Mer cou r i” sha ll be a war ded by t h e Com m ission pr ovided t h a t t he cit y m eet s t h e cr it er ia of t he a ct ion a n d has im plem en t ed t h e r ecom m enda t ions m a de by t h e Select ion a n d t he Mon it or in g a n d a dvisor y P a n els. Th e awa r d of t h e Melin a Mer cou r i P r ize by t h e E u r opea n Com m ission is n ot a ut om at ic.

Th e P r ize sh a ll be m on et a r y a n d sh a ll be a wa r ded in pr inciple – if a ll n ecessa r y con dit ion s a r e m et – t h r ee m on t hs befor e t he st a r t of t h e r eleva n t yea r , t h a t is, by Sept em ber 2017 for t h e 2018 t it le.

Am st er dam , Sept em ber 2013.

Th e S e le c tio n P a n e l Ma n fr ed Ga u lh ofer , Cha ir Nyn ke St ellin gsm a, Vice-Ch a ir Ch r ist in e de Ba a n Ma r got Ger en é St eve Gr een Sir J er em y Isa a cs An u Kivilo Din gem a n Kuilm a n 11

J or di P a r do Nor ber t Riedl E lisa bet h Vit ou ch J a n n eke va n der Wijk Ru t ger Wolfson

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