The "European Capitals of Culture" scheme was launched in 1985 by the Council of Ministers on the initiative of Melina Mercouri, the then Minister of Culture in Greece and with the support of Jack Lang, Minster of Culture in France at the time. Melina's dream was to foster deeper knowledge of the differences and similarities of European cultures among the European Union's member-states, in order to learn to communicate using the language of Culture.

Athens was the first city to host the Institution of the European Capital of Culture, in 1985. The opening of the first Capital of Culture was a significant moment of history, gathering for the first time ever all Ministers of Culture of all the Member-States of the European Community.

Ever since, the Institution of the European Capital of Culture (initially called European City of Culture) has developed and constantly attracts more and more attention, as one of the most successful cultural strategies of the European Union.