City shortlisted for European Youth Capital 2013

LONDONDERRY has been shortlisted for the European Youth Capital title for 2013.

Four European cities: Derry/ Londonderry; Maribor (Slovenia), Goes (Netherlands) and Karlstad (Sweden) will now go head to head for the European Youth Capital 2013 (EYC 2013).

The Mayor Councillor Colum Eastwood, said that this is another great achievement for the city.

"These are exciting times for our city. This latest announcement reflects the vibrancy of our youth who continue to play an integral role in shaping our city and region.

"May I take this opportunity to congratulate the team behind the application and wish them every success in their bid."

Londonderry, Maribor, Goes and Karlstad's applications all present ambitious programs that go beyond outlining the preparations, implementation and follow up mechanisms for the EYC project.

They distinct themselves through including a wide spectrum of stakeholders, imaginative but well balanced vision of cultural, sports events but also emphasizing cooperation with youth civil society and the aim of fostering participatory policies at all levels.

Therefore the EYC jury decided to shortlist four instead of the originally planned three cities.

The four shortlisted cities will have until October 13 the possibility to provide additional information to convince the jury to select them and the European Youth Forum to award them the title.

More details about the programme, planned activities, events and policy development will complement the applications and lead to the final selection of the European Youth Capital 2013.

The complete list of applicants to European Youth Capital 2013 are: Antalya, Turkey; Bucharest, Romania; Byron, Greece; Hertogenbosch, Netherlands; Istanbul, Turkey; Karlstad, Sweden; Maribor, Slovenia; Stantu Gheorge, Romania; Goes, Netherlands; Derry, Northern Ireland; Zaragoza, Spain;

The jury, composed of representatives from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe, the Committee on Culture and Education of the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the Council of European Municipalities and regions, the Advisory Council of Youth, EurActiv, NOW (Think Tank), the University of Montpellier, the Portuguese Youth Council (upcoming EYC 2012), the Local Youth Council of Braga (upcoming EYC 2012) and the European Youth Forum will convene again on November 15 in Brussels and discuss the top shortlisted applications in order to select the European Youth Capital 2013.

The award ceremony will take place during the YFJ General Assembly, on November 18-20.

The European Youth Capital is an idea of the European Youth Forum and is arrived at its 5th edition. Since the first European Youth Capital 2009, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, it has been growing in attention ever since. In the past years, the European Youth Forum has awarded the title EYC 2010 to Torino (Italy), EYC 2011 to Antwerp (Belgium) and EYC 2012 to Braga (Portugal).