The European Union, via a joint Parliamentary and
Council Decision, annually awards the distinction
of European Culture Capital to cities in its member
states and other countries alike.
The aim of
the European Union's Decision is that each year,
a city in a member state should highlight the
richness, diversity and common traits of the various
European cultures, as well as promoting increased
mutual awareness among European Union citizens,
via a special programme of cultural activities.
In the year 2016, it will be the turn of a Spanish
city to be named European Culture Capital, and
candidates must present their bids before 2012.
Malaga City Council held a plenary meeting on
the 30th of January 2004 in which those present
voted unanimously in favour of the city presenting
a bid to the European Union requesting that it
be named European Culture Capital 2016.
Since then, the whole city has been working tirelessly
in support of the Malaga 2016 campaign. The hopes,
commitment and collaboration of those involved
grow with each passing day. The benefits that
being appointed European Culture Capital would
bring to the city are much appreciated by all
concerned. Malaga's bid has received thousands
of demonstrations of support, endorsement and
collaboration on the part of a variety of institutions,
organisations, companies, personalities and citizens
alike.
Malaga, by virtue of a rich culture almost three
thousand years old, its modernity and current
development, its wealth of cultural attractions
in the international sphere, the multicultural
nature of its people, its excellent communications
infrastructure, its enormous hotel capacity and
its renown as a tourist resort, is the ideal candidate
to be named European Culture Capital 2016, and
the one with the greatest capacity and enthusiasm
for projecting and promoting the richness and
diversity of Europe's cultures and encouraging
mutual awareness among its citizens.
In order to be appointed European Culture Capital
2016 and thus be given the chance to fulfil this
prized role, Malaga needs all of its citizens,
by birth and adoption alike, not to mention all
those living in other cities and countries who
feel an affection for the city and believe in
its future capabilities and plans, to continue
to lend both their support and their endorsement
to its bid.
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