These initiatives are becoming increasingly numerous and are all funded through other European Union programmes.

At Ecocnews, we have been following this field every day for five years and we feel that these initiatives, all of which are interesting, legitimate and certainly yield important results, serve to fill a gap in the European Commission's programme.

Certainly, however, in addition to all these activities, a structure is needed, perhaps within the EU itself or outside it, to systematise this proliferation of initiatives and transfer the concrete results to the European Commission in order to avoid this fragmented geography. In short, someone is needed to connect the dots to clarify the design and, therefore, the strategy.

In all these initiatives, with rare exceptions, communication remains the weak link in the chain. We will continue with determination and public interest to strengthen this link by communicating to citizens the beauty of what is being done in Europe through culture and the values it brings with it.

---

Nine European countries have launched a joint initiative to strengthen the long-term impact of the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) on regional development beyond the title year. The project, ECoC Echo, focuses on solutions that help preserve and amplify the momentum generated during the title year, fostering growth in the cultural sector, regional development, and international cooperation.

The project brings together past, present and future European Capitals of Culture: Leeuwarden 2018 (Netherlands), Novi Sad 2022 (Serbia), Veszprém 2023 (Hungary), Tartu 2024 (Estonia), Chemnitz 2025 (Germany), Oulu 2026 (Finland), Liepāja 2027 (Latvia), Évora 2027 (Portugal), and Bourges 2028 (France). In addition to the ECoC cities, the project includes local and regional-level partners who play a key role in shaping and implementing cultural policies.

“The preparation and implementation of a European Capital of Culture has provided a powerful boost to the cultural life and economy of many regions. It is equally important now to direct that momentum into sustainable long-term development,” said Sille Talvet-Unt, representative of Tartu 2024 and project lead for ECoC Echo.

Participating countries will begin developing strategies to retain the networks, knowledge, and energy gained during their ECoC year. The goal is to identify effective ways to embed the legacy of the ECoC into local development frameworks, supporting regional growth and evolving systems of cultural governance.

“ECoC Echo offers a unique opportunity to learn from both previous and upcoming Capitals of Culture and to bring new knowledge to our cities in the fields of cultural management and international cooperation,” Talvet-Unt added.

The total budget of the project is approximately €2.27 million, shared between the nine participating countries and their 12 partner organisations. As part of the project, ECoC development strategies will be updated to ensure the implementation of agreed long-term objectives. The final results will be presented at the end of 2028 in Bourges, France, to coincide with the launch of the next European Capital of Culture year.

Several policy-making and regional partners are also involved in the project, including: the Association of Municipalities of Tartu County (Estonia), National Development Center (Hungary), the Centre-Val de Loire Regional Council (France), the Intermunicipal Community of Alentejo Central (Portugal), and the cities of Chemnitz (Germany), Novi Sad (Serbia), Oulu (Finland), and Liepāja (Latvia).

The project is co-funded by the European Union’s Interreg Europe programme, which supports interregional cooperation and helps public authorities across Europe develop better policies.

--------

EcocNews is an independent, non-profit, online newspaper. We cover the world of European and National Capitals of Culture.
Join us on this journey and support us with a voluntary donation here.