Marseille was an important European trading centre and remains the main commercial port of the French Republic. Marseille is now France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and the largest port for commerce, freight and cruise ships. The city was European Capital of Culture in 2013 and European Capital of Sport in 2017; it hosted matches at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2016. It is home to Aix-Marseille University. Marseille is the second-largest city in France after Paris and the centre of the third-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris and Lyon. To the east, starting in the small fishing
University Network of the European Capitals of Culture University Network of the European Capitals of Culture The University Network of the European Capitals of Culture(UNeECC), an international non-profit association, was founded upon the initiative of the University of Pécs in Pécs, Hungary in December 2006 by 15 founding members. UNeECC invites memberships in three different categories: The Secretariat of UNEECC is at the University of Pécs in Hungary. In 2007 the UNeECC GA and Conference was hosted by Lucian Blaga University in Sibiu. The Keynote Speaker of the Conference was Mr. Roger O’Keeffe Principal Administrator, from European Commission Directorate for Education and Culture. In 2008 the GA and