Brexit scuppers Dundee’s Capital of Culture bid

European Commission bombshell puts all UK cities out of the running for lucrative status

Dundee’s bid to become European Capital of Culture 2023 has been scuppered by Brexit.

The European Commission has confirmed Dundee and the five other cities who had entered will be unable to compete in the competition because of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.

Dundee’s team were due to pitch their bid to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) this coming Tuesday.

The Dundee 2023 bid team said the “bombshell” decision was “disrespectful” to the people of the city, but vowed to continue with the city’s cultural transformation.

Martine Reicherts, director-general of the European Commission’s education and culture department, wrote to DCMS to inform them the UK bid for Capital of Culture could not continue.

A European Commission spokesman said: “As one of the many concrete consequences of its decision to leave the European Union by March 29 2019, the UK cannot host the European Capital of Culture in 2023.

“According to the rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council (Decision 445/2014), this action is not open to third countries except candidate countries and European Free Trade Association/European Economic Area countries.

“Given that the UK will have left the EU by 29 March 2019, and therefore be unable to host the European Capital of Culture in 2023, we believe it makes common sense to discontinue the selection process now.”

Westminster’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which was due to choose the UK’s entry next Thursday, has expressed its disappointment.

A department spokesman said: “We disagree with the European Commission’s stance and are deeply disappointed that it has waited until after UK cities have submitted their final bids before communicating this new position to us.

“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 want to continue working with our friends in Europe to promote the long-term economic development of our continent, which may include participating in cultural programmes.

“We remain committed to working with the five UK cities that have submitted bids to help them realise their cultural ambitions and we are in urgent discussions with the Commission on the matter.”

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.

“We are hugely appreciative of the messages of support that are flooding in from around the world, particularly from our Unesco city partners.

“We are seeking urgent meetings with the UK and Scottish Governments to discuss how the enthusiasm and imagination of Dundee’s bid can be taken forward.

“Dundee will also be talking to its Tay Cities region partners, who are such strong supporters of Dundee’s cultural ambitions, and to Scotland’s local authorities who have also backed Dundee’s efforts to become European Capital of Culture 2023.”

We believe it makes common sense to discontinue the selection process now. EUROPEAN COMMISSION