Previo a la creación de la "Fundación Córdoba Ciudad Cultural" se creó una Comisión Especial cuya historia puede seguirse a través de los acuerdos de Pleno n. 193/01 de 5-7-2001 y n. 150/03 de 24-06-2003. El 13 de diciembre de 2002, se firma el Manifiesto "Córdoba 2016" suscrito por el Ayuntamiento de Córdoba, Junta de Andalucía, Diputación Provincial, Universidad de córdoba, Confederación de Empresarios, Cámara de Comercio, Real Academia, Federación de AA.VV., CC.OO. y UGT. En la reunión de la Comisión, celebrada el 25 de julio de 2003, se acordó la creación de las siguientes mesas de trabajo:
- For the European Capital of Culture, chaired by doctor Don Manuel Concha, among whose functions will be to gather and manage support for Cordoba’s bid.
- On organisation, chaired by Don Luis Carreto, President of CECO (Cordoba Business and Employers' Confederation). Functions: to carry out a ‘study proposal’ on the constant management model for the Cordoba, European Capital of Culture 2016 (CCCE16) project.
- On infrastructure, equipment and projects. Functions: to carry out a list of the current infrastructure available and to propose new ones.
The Special Commission fulfils the following functions:
- To prepare a document based on the city’s infrastructures and capacities, both in terms of its history and tradition as well as its present situation.
- To list current projects that will soon come into effect.
- To define the guidelines for the main activities to take place in the nomination year which might be based on the role that Córdoba plays as a meeting place between different people and cultures around the world, with special emphasis on European, Arabic and Hispanic cultures.
- To launch projects to be carried out in the years before 2016 which provide better infrastructure and conditions in order to ensure that this initiative meets with success.
- To ask for support from important institutions and people both inside and outside Córdoba.
- To ask for support and co-operation from other cities, especially those closely linked to Córdoba’s activities.
