Spiteful eurocrats use Brexit to BAN Dundee from being capital of culture
... yet they let non-EU members like Turkey win
BRUSSELS sparked fury yesterday after denying Dundee and four other British cities the chance to be crowned the European Capital of Culture because of Brexit.
In a ‘disrespectful’ move, the European Commission told the UK it was no longer allowed to take part – despite already accepting bids for the award in 2023.
The decision provoked further anger as the honour has previously been bestowed on cities in non-EU countries including Turkey, Norway and Iceland.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was ‘absolutely dismayed’ at the news, adding that officials in Dundee had already ploughed cash into the project as part of its 18-month campaign.
Bill Bowman, Scottish Conservative MSP for North East Scotland, said: ‘This will come as a huge blow to the team who have diligently put together Dundee’s submission.
‘It is also a kick in the teeth for the city. These bids can take years to prepare. The city is ready to take its place as a European capital of culture, official or not.’
The decision was outlined in a letter to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport this week, with the European Commission stating it was ‘not possible’ for the UK to partake.
A spokesman for the Dundee 2023 bid said: ‘We are hugely disappointed at this decision that has come just days before the Dundee bid team was due to travel to London to make its pitch.
‘The timing is disrespectful not only to the citizens of Dundee, but to people from all five bidding cities who have devoted so much time, effort and energy so far in this competition. It’s a sad irony that one of the key drivers of our bid was a desire to further enhance our cultural links with Europe.’
Miss Sturgeon told First Minister’s Questions that the ruling had come despite a previous effort to make sure the Scottish city stayed in the running after Brexit.
She told Holyrood: ‘The Scottish Government of course anticipated these issues and late last year [Culture Secretary] Fiona Hyslop wrote to the UK Government to highlight the enormous benefits that international cultural engagement can bring, and to seek reassurances that the UK would continue to participate in partnerships like the European Capital of Culture.’
Miss Hyslop said: ‘It is now deeply concerning that the amount of time, effort and expense Dundee have put into scoping out their bid could be wasted thanks to the Brexit policy of the UK Government .
‘We are in urgent contact with the UK Government and Dundee to understand the potential implications of this situation and to establish what action the UK Government is going to take to address it.’
The award rotates between countries and was due to be given to a British city in 2023. Glasgow has been the only Scottish winner so far, taking the title in 1990, while the only other British city to receive the honour was Liverpool in 2008.
Nottingham, Leeds, Dundee, Milton Keynes and a joint bid by Belfast and Londonderry were all in the running for the prize, which can significantly boost tourism and investment.
Councils in all five areas will be left out of pocket after spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on preparing bids over the past 18 months.
The move to blacklist the UK prompted an enraged response, as officials questioned the EU’s motivation and pointed out that the Britain will remain part of Europe after Brexit.
Downing Street last night said ministers were seeking ‘urgent discussions’ with the EU about the ‘disappointing decision’.
A spokesman for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: ‘The Prime Minister has been clear that while we are leaving the EU, we are not leaving Europe and this has been welcomed by EU leaders.
‘We are in urgent discussions with the commission on the matter.’
While the competition is backed by Brussels and underpinned by EU law, the Capital of Culture title can also be awarded to countries applying to join the bloc or who are in an economic grouping tied
‘Kick in the teeth for the city’ ‘Time, effort and expense wasted’
to the EU. The Government has previously admitted the delicate position and possibility of exclusion by the EU in a document published online.
It states: ‘Bidding cities should be aware that the European Capital of Culture title may be subject to the outcome of those exit negotiations which could have a bearing on the UK’s participation.’
A European Commission spokesman said: ‘As one of the many concrete consequences of that UK decision, UK participation is no longer possible.
‘It therefore makes sense to discontinue the selection process.’