The three outgoing 2022 European Capitals of Culture – Elefsina, Timisoara (Romania) and Veszprem (Hungary) – were handed over the baton of titles to the three outgoing European Capitals of Culture 2022 tonight in a long ceremony at the Acropolis Museum. -sur-Alzette (Luxembourg), Kaunas (Lithuania) and Novi Sad (Serbia).

The event was held for the first time since 1985, when the institution was founded, at the initiative of the then Minister of Culture of Greece, Melina Merkouris, together with her French counterpart Jacques Langeet, and Athens the first European Capital of Culture. . Since then, more than 60 cities have won the title.

The six European Capitals of Culture that took part in the event at the Acropolis Museum tonight have also offered to host it in Athens every year starting in 2023, and the idea has been welcomed by the European Commission.

A glass sculpture by the sculptor Pascal Sale from Luxembourg (“Made by Salem”), depicting the abduction of Europa, the daughter of King Agenor, symbolically captured the event, which was also accompanied by numerous speeches by official representatives. The speakers stressed the importance and purpose of the European Capitals of Culture – to contribute to the sustainable strengthening of Europe. “The European Capital of Culture, one of Europe’s most ambitious and iconic initiatives, represents the inexhaustible richness and diversity of the European culture that unites us: the principles of freedom, peace and human rights,” said European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, among others, at the event.

Mendon’s statement on the sculptures of the Parthenon

“Athens has always symbolized Democracy, the humanitarian, humanistic values ​​of the Western world. All these values ​​of freedom, peace, creation are perfectly depicted on the frieze of the Parthenon, in these Sculptures that remain fragmented between Athens and London. I hope not for long,” said Lina Mendoni, among other things, welcoming the celebration and awarding of the title of European Capital of Culture for 2023, held at the Acropolis Museum.

For her part, Despina Gerulanou, President of the 2023 Elefsina Capital of Culture, began her speech at the ceremony by saying, “It is amazing and touching that we are all here today because of the vision of a passionate Greek woman. Here in Athens, in the first European Capital of Culture. Melina’s vision was that Culture should become a means of getting to know and uniting our peoples and through this to build our common European identity,” she continued, expressing, among other things, gratitude to the European Committee for the Melina Mercouri award, which was awarded to the cultural capital a few days ago Elefsina. In conclusion, he wished success to the other two cultural capitals: “This is a very important day for all of us. This is the triumph of Culture, this is the triumph of Europe. Undoubtedly, today Melina would be very happy and proud of herself,” concluded Despina Gerulana.

^{Source: APE-MEB}