Plzeň presented a project with a clear budget, wrote the commission

Prague - Plzeň, as a candidate for the European Capital of Culture for the year 2015, presented an interesting project with a European context, a strong political commitment, and a clear budget. These were the reasons why the international commission decided to recommend the West Bohemian city as the cultural metropolis of Europe, giving it preference over Ostrava. However, the project from Ostrava was also of very high quality; the commission encouraged the city to pursue its realization regardless of the competition's outcome. This is stated in the evaluation report from the commission, which was published today on the website of the Ministry of Culture (MK).
    "The commission evaluated both projects as interesting, noting that the cities chose very different approaches," the report states. The jury considered the feasibility of the projects within a realistic timeframe and the project's benefit for Europe to be crucial criteria. This particularly disadvantaged Ostrava, which reportedly opted for an overly ambitious program for the urban transformation of industrial infrastructure into cultural spaces.
    In Plzeň, the jury appreciated the European ties and contacts, the realistic budget, and the professional composition of the team. The commission also viewed strong political commitment as a positive element, which they sensed from politicians regardless of party affiliation.
    However, the commission also reminded that the title of European Capital of Culture for 2015 is not completely certain for Plzeň. It will be necessary to adhere to the basic lines of the project set by the city; the commission plans to closely monitor the project's implementation.
    Plzeň intends, for example, to build a new theater and a sports and cultural center in Štruncovy Sady. The city will reportedly need about three billion crowns to implement the entire project by 2016. "The commission reminds that the program is ambitious and costly and believes that it will be realized in the planned scope and will be further developed in the future," the report states.
    The commission recommended Plzeň to increase the budget for marketing and communication to ensure that the project has a truly European impact. "The commission is not convinced that the current budget will be sufficient," the jurors wrote. The commission will further monitor whether the balance between the city's cultural policy and the artistic vision of the project persists even after local politicians change following the elections. Plzeň and Ostrava should cooperate, believes the commission.
    The nomination of Plzeň as the European Capital of Culture for 2015 must still be formally approved by the Czech government, which must subsequently inform the European Parliament, the EU Council, the European Commission, and the Committee of the Regions by the end of this year at the latest. The Council of EU Ministers will officially award the title to Plzeň in May 2011.