Ostrava wants to become the main cultural city of Europe in 2015

Ostrava - Ostrava will be competing for the title of European Capital of Culture. It could become this title in 2015, which is reserved for the Czech Republic and Belgium. This was stated by the spokesperson of the municipality, Andrea Vojkovská. The competitor for the Moravian-Silesian regional city will be Plzeň, which will also be vying for the title.
    Cultural metropolises of Europe have been named regularly since 1985. The decision on the allocation of the title is made by a thirteen-member panel of experts in Brussels. All cities that have not yet obtained the title are eligible to apply.
    The leadership of Ostrava hopes that if it obtains the title, the third largest city in the republic will become more visible abroad, its attractiveness will increase, and tourism as well as interest in cultural events in the city of 300,000 will strengthen. According to Vojkovská, the support for the reconstruction of historical and heritage sites, financial support from European funds, and an influx of investors could also be beneficial. The city's infrastructure would improve, transport connections with the region would strengthen, and unemployment, which is currently more than nine percent compared to six percent in the Czech Republic, would decrease.
    In the past, major cultural cities in Europe have included Athens, Amsterdam, West Berlin, and Madrid. Two years ago, the title belonged to Cork, last year it was Patras, and this year Luxembourg and Sibiu can proudly hold this title together. For the year 2000, Prague was named the Cultural Metropolis of Europe, having unsuccessfully pursued the title for 1998.