Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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368. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the Designation of European Capitals of Culture for 2017 and 2018, that was discussed during the Irish EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36231/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Decision No. 1622/2006/EC (the Decision) of the European Parliament and the Council of 24 October 2006, establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019, lays down the procedure of designation of the European Capitals of Culture for those years.

According to Article 2 of the Decision, from 2009 to 2019, two cities of two Member States will be designated as European Capitals of Culture, in turn, according to the chronological order set out in the Decision. Denmark and Cyprus are the Member States entitled to host the event in 2017 while Malta and the Netherlands are entitled to host the event in 2018.

The Decision provides for the setting up of a assessment panel and also lays down the application and assessment process for the selection of the Capitals of Culture. The application process commences at least six years in advance of the designation year.

After completion of the assessment process the assessment panel recommended that Aarhus in Denmark and Paphos in Cyprus would be designated European Capitals of Culture in 2017 and that Valletta in Malta would be designated in 2018. The Netherlands has not yet completed its selection process for 2018. Malta commenced its selection process a year earlier than required. Denmark, Cyprus and Malta proceeded to notify the nominations to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions in the Autumn 2012.

The European Parliament forwarded its positive opinions to the Commission in February 2013.

Consequently, the Commission submitted to the Council the recommendation for the official designation of Aarhus and Paphos for the 2017 European Capital of Culture event in Denmark and Cyprus, respectively, and for the official designation of Valletta for the 2018 European Capital of Culture event in Malta.

This recommendation was accepted by the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council that I chaired on the 17 May 2013.