These criteria state that the cities should prepare a cultural programme with a strong European dimension and foster the participation of citizens in the city, its neighbourhood and the whole country.
Neis kriteeriumides on öeldud, et linnad peavad ette valmistama kultuuriprogrammi, millel on tugev Euroopa mõõde ja mis peab soodustama linna ja selle ümbruse elanike, samuti kogu riigi kodanike osalemist.