The decision is based on the  joint letter that the Minister of Culture and the Mayor of Tallinn have sent to Mr Jan Truszczyński, Director General of Education and Culture in the European Commission in August, to guarantee the funding of the programme of 2011 year with 50 million krones each.

„Considering this information, the Commission is prepared to proceed towards the award
of the Melina Mercouri Prize to Tallinn 2011“ wrote the culture and media director of European Commission  Directorate-General for Education and Culture Xavier Troussard.

"The positive funding decision enables the foundation to move on with our plans according to the budget,“ comments the member of the board Jaanus Mutli. „The prize money will be used to fund projects of the programme in 2011 and also this year,“ adds Mutli.

The "Melina Mercouri" prize, which is named after the Greek minister of culture who first initiated the title, shall be awarded to the cities designated as European Capitals of Culture by the European Commission on the condition that they have fulfilled their commitments and implemented the recommendations made by the selection and monitoring panels.