Decision No 445/2014/EU is amended as follows:
(1)
Article 3 is amended as follows:
(a)
the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:
‘The title shall be awarded each year to a maximum of one city in each of the two Member States appearing in the calendar set out in the Annex (“the calendar”) and, in the relevant years, to one city from a European Free Trade Association country which is party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (“EFTA/EEA country”), a candidate country or a potential candidate, or to one city from a country that accedes to the Union in the circumstances set out in paragraph 5. However, a maximum of one city in each of the three Member States appearing in the calendar shall hold the title in 2023.’;
(b)
paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:
‘3. Cities in Member States shall be entitled to hold the title for one year in accordance with the order of the Member States appearing in the calendar. The cities holding the title in 2020 may continue to hold the title until 30 April 2021, without the year of designation being changed.’;
(2)
the second subparagraph of Article 4(2) is replaced by the following:
‘The cultural programme shall cover the year of the title and shall be created specifically for the title, in accordance with the criteria laid down in Article 5. However, the cities holding the title in 2020 may continue to implement their cultural programme until 30 April 2021.’;
(3)
in Article 16(1), the third subparagraph is replaced by the following:
‘The cities concerned shall draw up their evaluation reports and transmit them to the Commission by 31 December of the year following the year of the title. However, the cities holding the title in 2020 shall draw up their evaluation reports and transmit them to the Commission by 30 April 2022.’;
(4)
the Annex is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.