Can culture be a shield against the degradation of politics and public institutions? Can the values of the European Union represent a weapon to defend the autonomy of individual countries?

We, who every day follow with passion and dedication the cities that try to change their destiny with culture, believe that the answer to these questions must be positive. We believe that there is no alternative to these answers.

Culture is the basis of every feeling of peace, and is always against war, in Europe and in every country in the world.

In the values of European culture there are words like freedom, autonomy, sharing, inclusion, respect for the other, respect for diversity. And the cultural programmes of the European Capitals of Culture try, year after year, to interpret these values through different artistic expressions, through cultural programmes, through creativity.

Culture for EcocNews is an antidote to war.

What has been happening in Ukraine for exactly one year is a threat to Europe and the whole world because it disseminates values that are not our own. It disseminates anti-values. Europe is against war and there are no alternatives to peace. Europe is for the self-determination of peoples and to democracy there is no alternative.

In this year, the world of the European Capitals of Culture looked with concern at what was happening. And only a few cities have mobilised themselves with specific projects. More needs to be done.

In 2030, the calendar of the European Capitals of Culture foresees three European capitals, one from Cyprus, one from Belgium, and one from a state potentially wishing to join Europe.

EcocNews believes that already today the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the European Commission should formalise an act deciding that the third European Capital of Culture should be designated by Ukraine.

To promote this decision we have started a petition.

Sign this petition.

We owe it to the Ukrainian people, to Europe, to the defence of our values, peace and human rights, freedom and respect for all peoples.