The requirements for a valid candidacy are as follows:

• 1. The candidacy must be submitted no later than the deadline (sent by post, fax or electronic message)
• 2. The candidate programme must be recommended by the mayor of the applicant city.

Nomination criteria

The candidate programmes, accompanied by the mayor's letter of presentation, shall be aimed at promoting books and fostering reading during the period between one World Book and Copyright Day and the next (23 April).

The selection committee will examine the candidate programmes in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Submission of a programme including activities specifically conceived for the year in which the city would be the World Book Capital City, and which would only take place in case of nomination.
2. A general outline of expenses planned and a strategy to identify possible financial resources.
3. Degree of the municipal, regional, national and international involvement and potential impact of the programmes.
4. Quantity and quality of specific or ongoing activities organized by the candidate-city in cooperation with the national and international professional organizations representing writers, publishers, booksellers and librarians and in full respect of the various stakeholders of the book supply chain.
5. Quantity and quality of any other noteworthy project promoting and fostering books and reading.
6. Conformity to the principles of freedom of expression, freedom to publish and to disseminate information, stated by the UNESCO Constitution as well as byArticles 19 and 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by the Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials (Florence Agreement).

There are no other guidelines concerning the content or the formulation of the candidate programme. It is sufficient that the programme's presentation reflect the enunciated contents and principlesin a clear and concise way.

Obligations of the selected cities

By presenting its application each candidate city commits itself, in case of nomination, to:
1. associate UNESCO and the three professional associations represented in the Selection Committee, in its communication and information campaign namely by displaying their respective logos, at all levels on all publications and on the web site dedicated to the initiative);
2. provide UNESCO, which will share it with all members of the Selection Committee, with:
a. An interim report on the activities implemented during the first part of nomination year (23 April -October);
b. A final report on the activities implemented during the whole nomination year (23 April -22 April of the following year);
3. systematically invite UNESCO and the three professional associations represented in the Selection Committee to all main events relating the World Book Capital City programme;
4. produce and circulate information and communication tools on the City programme both in national and international languages.
Besides, the City authorities commit themselves to facilitate possible evaluation audits implemented on UNESCO’s demand.