Article 2

A draw shall be organised among all Member States. The participation of Member States in the draw shall be voluntary. However, to minimise the risk of a conflict of interest, Member States hosting a European Capital of Culture that is to be selected or monitored during the term of office of the members of the panel shall be excluded from the draw. A list of Member States concerned, based on the order of entitlement to nominate a European Capital of Culture in accordance with the Annex to Decision No 1622/2006/EC, is set out in the Annex to this Decision. Additionally, to ensure the widest possible geographical distribution of Member States recommending experts, Member States that recommended experts for the previous period shall be excluded from the draw.

The first two Member States to be drawn shall be selected. Each of these two Member States shall recommend the nomination of one independent expert with substantial experience and expertise in the cultural sector, in the cultural development of cities or in the organisation of a European Capital of Culture.

On the basis of the recommendations of the two selected Member States and following due scrutiny of the recommended candidates, the Council shall nominate the two experts who are to form part of the selection panel and the monitoring and advisory panel for a period of three years.

In case of the death or resignation of a panel expert, the Member State that recommended the expert in question shall recommend the nomination of a replacement for the remainder of the term of office. The procedure referred to in paragraph 3 shall apply.