The Nuremberg city council this week gave the green light for Nuremberg's application to become the European Capital of Culture 2025.

A large majority of Socal Democrat, Christian Democrat and Greens councilors voted in favor of proceeding with the application. However the Ecological-Democratic party and the Left party, among others, voted against the bid, arguing the application cost of approximately five million euros was too high. 

Left party city councilor Titus Schüller said that the money would be better invested directly in cultural institutions.

Nuremberg Lord Mayor, Ulrich Maly, meanwhile called the bid approval "a pioneering decision for Nuremberg‘s future." European culture capital status would be a "great opportunity" for the city, he said.

In addition to culture, a broad spectrum of economic, social and environmental issues will be encompassed in the Nuremberg application, according to the Nuremberg city website.

Julia Lehner, cultural representative for the Christian Democrats, said, "We want to develop this concept together with the citizens. (…) No other city has earned the title as much as Nuremberg. A city with our history can also fulfill the European dimension."

Seven more German cities are also vying to become European Capital of Culture 2025, including Dresden, Magdeburg, Chemnitz and Leipzig. Slovenian cities will also compete for the title, which will be decided in 2020.

The first European Capital of Culture was anounced by the European Union in 1985. The chosen capital retains the title for one year, during which it shows off the richness and diversity of culture in Europe. 

Wroclaw in Poland, and San Sebastián in Spain, are the 2016 European culture capitals.

skb/kbm (with dpa)