For the first time, Luxembourg proposes to enlarge the name of "European Capital of Culture in one region, the Grande Région". The European Commission is currently considering this original and audacious proposition.
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european institute of cultural routes |
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| Sorina Capp |
| 20 April 2004 |
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| Luxembourg and the Grande Région |
«Luxembourg and Grande Région, European Capital of Culture 2007» is the proposition of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg to the European Commission. For the first time, the European Capital of Culture will be a region, and not only one town. And not one region, but the Grand Région : Sarre ? Lorraine ? Grand Duchy of Luxembourg ? Rhénanie-Palatinat - Wallone Region ? French Community of Belgium ? German speaking community of Belgium? which for a long time has existed in what is a political and cultural entity (see attached file : History of Grande Région). The Grande Région, situated in the heart of Europe, occupies an area of 65,000 km² with 11.2 million habitants.
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Remich (border Luxembourg-Germany) Photo MTP
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Landscape in Luxembourg (photo MTP)
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It is a first in the initiative of the European Commission and this unusual proposition has surprised the Commission. It is quite difficult, from an outside perspective to imagine a close cooperation in the formation of something in which participate several countries. But the numerous exchanges are in lots of domains and the Grande Région has its evidence. What is more normal than to put on the table and to make together the objectives of Cultural Cooperation? It is the solid result of this cooperation which has lasted for years and which gives its dynamism to this small part of Europe, this ?laboratory? in which one genuinely finds the unity in the diversity, this which the European Union and the Council of Europe would like to obtain throughout the continent.
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| Luxembourg's suggestion for 2007 |
?The originality of the proposition ?Luxembourg and Grande Région, Culture Capital of Europe 2007? is associated, for the first time since the creation of the idea in 1985, of five regions of four different countries. These regions are very different administrative and political entities:
- a Sovereign State, Luxembourg with a trilingual population and artistic creation,
- two German Länders, the Sarre and the Rhénanie-Palatinat which join in the frame of the German Federal State, a large autonomy
- A French region, the Lorraine, directed by national authorities , representing the central power, then the Regional Council, the General Councils (department of the Meuse, of the Meurthe-et-Moselle, of the Moselle and the Vosges),
- A Belgian region, part of a federal kingdom, represented by two communities; one German speaking, the other French speaking.?
?Reuniting five regions, four countries, three languages (at least), hundreds of companies, millions of creators, cultural and social agents around a multinational and transborder cultural project is without precedent. To associate the populations of nationalities, the linguistic expressions, the different traditions in a region which was in the past a place of conflict, of annexations, of bloody occupations is strong symbol of confidence in European citizenship and the determining role of social cohesion that is culture.
In spite of the originality of this proposition, the jury (part of the European Commission) which has to approve it had expressed some reticences at the meeting of the 14th May 2003 in Brussels (see attached document : ?Captiale Européenne Culture 2007?).
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Wenzel cultural route
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The press published the information a little too fast, which after the luxembourgeoise delegation, wasn?t sufficiently documented and completed. Thus, by a explicative report (that one can read also on the site of the Luxembourg Government : http://www.gouv.lu), the representatives of the luxembourgois delegation added complementary information and the necessary rectifications. (See report attached : ?Luxembourg 2007?).
The European Institute of Cultural Routes has been associated since the beginning with the meetings of reflection in the actions of development in this proposition : ?Luxembourg and Grande Région, European Capital of Culture 2007?. The Institute?s team is very attached to this proposition as it represents the essence of an exemplary cooperation in Europe and can be applied also to other European Regions. For several years, the European Institute of Cultural Routes has developed projects of cooperation also with the Grande Région (in French and German), in collaboration with the Publisher Guy Binsfeld. Thus it was an honour to be included in the meetings of a work group of the 2007 perspectives, to be able to reinforce the contacts and the projects of cooperation. We keep the hope that the members of the jury, which will discover the Grande Région in Autumn, will come again to the next meeting in September with their decision and accept with enthusiasm the proposition of Luxembourg?s ambitious project, throughout the recent official visit of the First French Minister : Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg reinforced the hope of France for this proposition : ?Luxembourg and the Grande Région, European Capital of Culture 2007?. (See attached document : ?Jean-Pierre Raffarin in Luxembourg?).
On September 29th the non-rofit organisation in charge has been launched.
On 16 October 2003, the co-ordinator genaral has been chosen. Mr Robert Garcia is journalist and Member of Parliament. See link
On 22 December 2003, presentation of the concept for the journalistsSee link.
On 5 April 2004, meeting with the jury in Brussels. (see link)
On 27 April 2004, press conference to announce the positive decision of the jury. (see link)
On 27 May 2004, the Council of Ministers decided in Brussels to choose Luxembourg and Sibiu as European Capitals of Culture for 2007. (see link)
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