There are a total of 13 recommendations that the City of Skopje and all other institutions, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will have to fulfill for the organization of such events. These points from the monitoring group’s monitoring report have been intentionally highlighted to make the preparations and progress of the programs envisaged as standard for such an event clearer, the report states.
The report of the European Commission Committee, monitoring the cities that have won the title of “European Capital of Culture”, is skeptical about the preparatory phase for the implementation of the program for Skopje as “European Capital of Culture 2028”. There are a total of 13 recommendations that the City of Skopje and all other institutions, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will have to fulfill for the organization of such events. These points from the monitoring report of the monitoring group have been deliberately highlighted in order to make the preparations and progress of the programs envisaged as standard for an event such as the European Capital of Culture clearer, reports the European Commission. The Commission will convene a second monitoring meeting in the autumn of 2026.
But, before this meeting, the Report emphasizes that an updated progress report is required by the end of January 2025 and other possible follow-up actions to ensure that the city of Skopje is on track to deliver an ECoC in 2028 of the required high standards.
So far, there has been no official information regarding the progress of the preparations, neither from the City of Skopje nor from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The report of the expert panel from the first monitoring meeting for the event Skopje – European Capital of Culture 2028 (Skopje ECoC 2028), among other things, requires from the authorities a detailed cultural and artistic program with an adequate budget, organizational structure, monitoring and evaluation plans, as well as a communication and marketing strategy. The published report states that it is strongly hoped that Skopje will this time fulfill the commitments previously articulated and confirmed at the first monitoring meeting and that the essential elements missing from the Progress Report will be addressed quickly.
“Clarity regarding the next steps is essential, especially regarding the recruitment of the executive director, artistic director and other key staff by the end of 2024. The panel stresses the importance of maintaining a strong channel of communication with the European Commission regarding Skopje 2028. As Skopje prepares for this monumental year, it is vital that the city addresses the recommendations presented by the panel. Establishing an independent delivery body and securing highly qualified staff, ensuring knowledge transfer from previous teams, fulfilling budgetary commitments, creating a dedicated cultural program, increasing transparency and community engagement, and developing strategic partnerships will be essential for the success of Skopje 2028,” the report states. (koha.mk)
