<p> HELLENIC REPUBLIC Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs</p><p>HELLENIC MINISTRY OF CULTURE, EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND EUROPEAN UNION European Union Department </p><p>Info Day “European Capital of Culture 2021, Information and guidelines to candidate cities” </p><p>Athens, 25th of February 2015 Auditorium of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs</p><p>Agenda </p><p>09:30 - 10:00 Arrival of participants and registration at the Auditorium of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs</p><p>10:00 – 10:30 Greetings</p><p> Mr Nikos Xydakis, Alternate Minister for Culture  Mr Spyros Merkouris, Director and Coordinator of the first European Capital of Culture “Athens 1985” – Honorary President of the Network of the European Capitals of Culture</p><p>10:30 - 11:00 Presentation of the Call for submission of applications of the cities preparing to bid for the “European Capital of Culture 2021”</p><p> Mr George Kalamantis, Head of Directorate of International Relations and European Union, Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs  Ms Eirini Komninou, Head of the European Union Department, Directorate of International Relations and European Union, Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs </p><p>11:00 - 11:15 Best Practices: Plovdiv -Bulgaria “European Capital of Culture 2019”</p><p> Ms Radostina Georgieva, Project Manager of “Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019” </p><p>11:15 – 11:45 Coffee Break </p><p>11:45 – 12:30 Guidelines for cities preparing to bid for the “European Capital of Culture 2021”  Mr Sylvain Pasqua, Team Leader - Coordination of European Capitals of Culture, European Commission - Directorate General for Education and Culture</p><p>12:30 - 13:30 Discussion (Questions and Answers Session with Mr Sylvain Pasqua) </p>