European Capitals of Culture are defining a true European Union of Culture

Unity in Diversity, this was the motto of the first conference of the European Capitals of Culture, hosted at Palazzo Vecchio, in Florence, Italy.

The opening of the Conference was attended by the Italian Minister of Culture Alberto Bonisoli, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics and the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, who affirmed that "Culture is the only true key to the future, a tool for knowledge, for projects, creativity and integration".

The Italian Minister of Culture, Alberto Bonisoli noted that "this conference is held in the context of the European Year of Cultural Heritage".

The year 2018 marks the importance of discovering and engaging with Europe's cultural heritage, strengthening the sense of belonging to a common European space, and, as such, "the institutions of each European Capital should be regarded as key in the process of European integration", asserted Bonisoli.

Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, who is also in charge of the Cultural Department of Porto City Hall, signed the final statement of the Mayors of European capitals of Culture, during the first conference attended by the 45 cities Capitals of Culture.

The proposition of Mayor of Porto (it should be recalled that Porto was European Capital of Culture in 2001) includes the presentation of the current municipal strategy regarding the culture sector in the city, backed by social and economic sustainable mid and long term goals.

This event was drafted at the High Level Back to Back event, held in Florence on 30 March 2017. The main goal was to "pave the way for new culture diplomacy approaches and improved economic growth of creative and cultural sectors".

Thus, this first conference of the European Capitals of Culture, held in Florence, which run for three days and concluded on 6 November, is aimed at enhancing cultural institutions in each European City and the commitment by the municipalities to preserve cultural and local heritage, by projecting a future of integration; a collective effort to be undertaken by the new generations, as well.

This conference was the perfect spot to networking and exchanging best practices of the cities European Capitals of Culture regarding the preservation of cultural heritage.

The final moment of this event was the signing of the Carta de Firenze ["Chart of Florence"], which sets culture as "the indispensable tool towards dialogue, growth, identity, social, economic and political cohesion within the European Union, by rejecting terrorism and xenophobic behaviour".

The Chart also establishes that every two years, the cities European Capitals of Culture will meet in a different city "to assert progress achieved and to come up with new ideas and propositions".

"We should be proud of Europe, we are part of Europe, and we must endeavour so that all European culture is headed towards plurality, acceptance of diversity, with particular attention to the fundamental needs of each European city", declared the Italian Minister of Culture, Alberto Bonisoli.