Trenčín as the European Capital of Culture in 2026 will be promoted by the Slovak Embassy in Brussels. At a Monday meeting with compatriots at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Brussels, the Slovak ambassador responsible for Belgium and Luxembourg, Tomáš Kozák, confirmed to the TASR reporter that diplomacy can also help this project with cultural, economic and social impact and present it on a wider European scale.
The event with compatriots preceded the official presentation of the program in the building of the European Council on Tuesday (November 4), where representatives of Trenčín will appear before the media together with representatives of the Finnish city of Oulu, which next year it will also bear the title of European Capital of Culture.
Ambassador for a debate with compatriots, employees of EU institutions and members of the European Parliament invited the vice-mayor of Trenčín, Patrik Žák, and the director of the Creative Institute of Trenčín, no Stanislav Krajčí.
“We wanted to present to them together how this project was created, what principles guided them and the people who prepared Trenčín as the capital of culture,” said the Cossack. He added that this is just the beginning for the embassy, as it is part of its diplomatic activities “we will continue to help the city in this important project”for example by promoting Trenčín in Brussels.
The ambassador pointed out that such projects also have an economic impact, because cities with the title of European Capital of Culture pay attention not only to their economic development, but also to the development possibilities for the wider region, which this title brings with it.
“Of course, we understood very early on when we were negotiating cooperation with the city of Trenčín that for the city it is not only the title of Capital of Culture for 2026, but also a development project that they want to build on in the coming years, on those unique experiences. We will also present this in Brussels and look for inspiration in it and interpret it to other cities in Slovakia, so that they go into these projects when the European Capital of Culture is being sought for the next period,” said the ambassador.
When selecting European cities of culture, the European Commission requires that in addition to cultural visibility, this brand also had a European dimension, and also to ensure the sustainability of the development of the city and its surroundings even after the title was handed over.
“We are glad that the project that Trenčín has prepared for 2026 also has this dimension,” said the Cossack. He added that the Slovak Embassy in Brussels has the ambition to be an “open place” for people who attend various events in its premises, from cultural presentations to meetings with compatriots and diplomats, and will closely cooperate with the city of Trenčín in promoting events that are planned as part of its performance as the European Capital of Culture.
