The EU Commission has today published the third and final report of the expert panel monitoring progress towards becoming European Capital of Culture. The new report was based on a virtual meeting of the panel in mid-October with Mayor Sven Schulze and many of those involved in the European Capital of Culture process.
The jury's assessment was very positive: It was impressed by the development that the city has undergone together with many stakeholders in recent years. In the report, the jury praised the strong will with which the Capital of Culture is being worked on. In the jury's opinion, the already broad participation, many stable partnerships and comprehensive planning are the ideal prerequisites for a successful title year 2025.
In the third report, the successful monitoring is now the basis for the recommendation to the EU Commission to award Chemnitz the Melina Mercouri Prize totalling 1.5 million euros. The prize is named after the initiator of the "European Capital of Culture" development project, the former Greek minister Melina Mercouri, who developed the idea of bringing European cities closer together in this way in 1985.
Commenting on the current report, Lord Mayor Sven Schulze said: "The assessment by the European jury is a great honour for all those in Chemnitz who are contributing to the European Capital of Culture process with their commitment and passion. The experts' recommendations will help us to make 2025 a success and to continue to develop Chemnitz after the title year and network it on a European level."
Andrea Pier, Managing Director of Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH: "The third monitoring by the EU was a very good opportunity to reflect on our work again so shortly before the start of the Capital of Culture year. The positive feedback from the international panel of experts confirms that a highly professional team is working towards the Capital of Culture year with great commitment. The valuable advice from the experts helps us to set priorities and not lose sight of the long-term goals in such a large project. We are looking forward to a brilliant start on 18 January."
As in previous reports, the jury has once again made recommendations to the city in order to optimise the 2025 title year and ensure its long-term impact. One key suggestion concerns the so-called "legacy": the knowledge and experience gained from the Capital of Culture year should be incorporated and utilised beyond 2025. It is important to continue the transparent cooperation with stakeholders and partners in order to preserve the commitment that has been created in the long term. International networks should also be further strengthened and ongoing activities stabilised in order to anchor Chemnitz culturally and at a European level in the long term.
The European Union's expert panel has been monitoring the implementation of the title since its official appointment in 2021. A first report was published in 2021 and a second monitoring took place in 2023.
