BELFAST and Derry's joint bid to be named European Capital of Culture in 2023 has been curtailed after authorities in Brussels announced the honour will not be open to any city that leaves the EU once Brexit happens in 2019.
The move follows a report in October in The Irish News in which the EU's Director-General for Education and Culture Michel Magnier warned that Brexit "could be a problem" for the cities' bid.
Two days later, Belfast City Council's Chief Executive Suzanne Wylie said there was "no reason to be concerned" about the fate of the bid.
In a letter obtained today by Politico, EU director-general for Education and Culture, Martine Reicherts said: "After consulting relevant services of the Commission, I would like to inform you that following its withdrawal from the European Union, the participation of the United Kingdom in the European Capital of Culture Union action will not be possible."
The letter went on to say "the Commission considers that the selection process should immediately be discontinued."
Following today's news, Belfast City Council said it was "deeply disappointed" but that it would be seeking "urgent clarification" on the taxpayer-funded bid.
"We are aware that DCMS (British government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) is still in discussions with the European Commission on behalf of all five cities involved and are seeking urgent clarification on the matter," a spokeswoman said.
"We are, however, deeply disappointed with this recent development, but are committed to ensuring that the time, energy, enthusiasm, ideas and resources put into our bid are carried forward regardless.
"It is still our intention to ensure our cultural ambitions are realised and will be in discussion with DCMS and Derry City and Strabane District Council in the coming days."
DUP MEP Diane Dodds said: "This is needless and spiteful posturing by the Commission. In spite of the assurances that they will not act in malice or attempt to punish the UK, here we have an example of the schoolboy pettiness we have come to expect from Brussels."
They were advised by DCMS that this was subject to the Brexit negotiations after the referendum.
— Rob Redmond (@robby_red) November 23, 2017
The Capital of Culture scheme is open to countries that aren't in the EU. Previous countries to host the capital include Iceland and Norway. However, these countries are in the European Economic Area (EEA). The British government's plan to pursue a hard Brexit will see the country leave the EEA and therefore be ineligable to submit European Capital of Culture bids.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he has written to the EU Commission "to ask that we are treated as a special case."
He said: “The news that the European Commission has written to the British Government to state that a British City cannot be a European Capital of Culture in 2023 is bitter blow for the joint bid from Belfast and Derry.
“This is deeply disappointing for the people of the two cities and for those who have worked so hard to progress the joint bid.
“The SDLP has today written directly to the EU Commission to ask that we are treated as a special case. I’ve also made contact with the Irish Government to ask for their immediate intervention with the EU Commission to ask that the bid for the two cities on the island of Ireland can proceed.
“The SDLP long warned that Brexit would lead to economic instability and prevent growth in our communities, that reality has now hit home."
