The first formal monitoring of the project Košice ECOC 2013

At the end of last year, representatives of non-profit organization Košice 2013, together with the newly elected Mayor Richard Raši attended the first formal monitoring of the project the European Capital of Culture 2013 in Brussels. Formal monitoring during implementation of the project European Capital of Culture in general is doing twice. Conclusions from it is reported by the Monitoring Panel to the European Commission.

First monitoring was focused especially on the program as Kosice ECOC, the phase of preparation and its European dimension. Commision highly appreciated work of the team, the amount of work the phase of preparation of projects that have been achieved despite the limited amount of financial and personnel resources. The panel also praised the stable structure of project management, despite the political changes at local and national level. For the Panel is very important that the newly elected mayor and city authorities maintain continuity, and recommends to continue supporting the team and focusing on the main role, thus artistic programming of 2013. For the positive contribution  the Commission also considered creating a coalition called 2013 +, as a suitable partner for project management.

R. Raši, the mayor of Kosice, ” I thought it is very important to participate in the monitoring, because I care about success of Košice 2013. I’m glad we were able to present the results and Kosice ended up very well. “

Zora Jaurová, Artistic Director, Košice 2013, “The key is that the monitoring panel and the European Commission considered the phase of preparation as satisfactory, even more than there was expected. This is our great satisfaction for the huge amount of work people have done in Kosice. Now we have to continue the pace and started to add more.. “

Based on the report by the Monitoring Panel Košice fulfilled its commitments and they acted according to the recommendations of the jury and advisory committee. No later than eight months before the event, the monitoring panel will meet again with representatives of non-profit organization and mayor in order to assess the preparatory work carried out and map the tasks to be fulfilled. Commission give to the cities Melina Mercouri Prize, provided that they fulfill everything that was committed during the selection phase, and that adequately respond to the recommendations issued.