Svet, ki deluje soglasno na priporočilo Komisije, za vsako leto uradno imenuje eno izmed nominiranih mest kot Evropsko prestolnico kulture, pri tem pa upošteva, da je zaželen čas priprave štiri leta.
The Council, acting unanimously on a recommendation from the Commission, shall officially designate one of these nominated cities as a European Capital of Culture for each year, bearing in mind the desirability of four years' preparation time.