European Capital of Culture Policy and Urban Development Plan for Rijeka, Croatia

It was only in 2004 that the European Union, originally composed of Western European countries, began to include the so-called Eastern European countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary), which had transitioned from socialism to democracy. This was followed by Romania and Bulgaria joining in 2007 and Croatia in 2013. The very nature of the European continent, with its diverse peoples, languages, histories, and cultures, has undoubtedly necessitated policies that recognize, acknowledge, and seek to reduce differences as much as possible, with the ultimate goal of uniting them. In particular, the EU member states, which were originally composed of Western European countries, may have been in dire need of policies to bridge the gap with the countries that underwent communism after World War II, as many of them joined the EU in the 2000s. The policy direction of cultural integration with former communist countries aligns with the general trend of European integration. However, it is being promoted in various ways, taking into consideration the special history and situation of these countries. The goal is to provide opportunities for people to understand each other's history and culture, fostering interactions that contribute to overcoming cultural differences and forming strong bonds. In particular, the former communist countries have an economic gap with existing EU member states due to past political and economic changes. The EU is working to provide economic infrastructure and industrial support to these countries, strengthen cooperation, and promote cultural integration with Western European countries. Such directions and policies continue to be promoted for cultural integration between existing EU member states and former communist countries. Examples of these initiatives include the European Capital of Culture project and the Erasmus Program, which aim to foster cultural understanding and integration among future generations through education, ultimately working towards the goal of European integration. In any case, it is clear that the country of 'Croatia' and the city of 'Rijeka,' which gained independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 and were not initially recognized by not only European citizens but also the world, seized the opportunity of the European Capital of Culture 2020 project to establish closer communication and cooperation with Europe and the global community. We expect that they will continue progressing on the path of 'integration' while preserving 'cultural diversity' in the future.