EURENT

Yordanka Fandakova, Mayor of the Bulgarian capital Sofia, has declared her administration is doing everything possible to boost the city's chances of becoming aEuropean Capital of Culture 2019.

"The Sofia Municipality has endorsed culture as its high priority in the city's management," Fandakova said Saturday during a conference dedicated to Sofia's bid to become Europe's cultural capital in 2019.

She pointed out that major investments are planned for archaeological excavations and preserving the city's cultural legacy.

The number of Bulgarians employed in cultural institutions doubled in 2009, reaching 89 000, with 54 000 of them working in Sofia, Fandakova said, citing data from the country's National Statistical Institute. That means that investments in culture pay off.

Bulgaria, together with Italy, have already been chosen to share a European Capital of Culture title in 2019. The exact cities, however, will be determined in 2014.

Besides the capital Sofia, Varna, Ruse, Plovdiv and Burgas have already launched their bids.

The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organizes a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension.More than 40 cities have been designated the presigious title so far.

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