Victoria's selection as European Capital of Culture 2031 is an achievement that deserves to be recognised not merely as a victory for one town, or even for Gozo, but for Malta as a whole. It is the result of more than two years of preparation, consultation and work by people who believed that Gozo could put forward a bid capable of standing up to European scrutiny. The independent panel's recommendation confirms that belief.

Credit should therefore go to all those who worked to make the bid possible: the Victoria Local Council, the Gozo Regional Council, the Victoria 2031 Foundation, the artistic team, businesses, cultural organisations, communities and the many individuals who contributed to the process. Their achievement should not be diminished by political affiliation or ownership of the success. This was a collective effort, and it should remain one.

The title is particularly important because the European Capital of Culture programme is not supposed to be simply a year-long festival. The European Commission itself points to the potential for regeneration, a stronger international profile, new cultural activity and tourism, as well as longer-term social and regional development.

That is where the real opportunity lies.

There are still more than four full years before 2031. That is a considerable amount of time to prepare properly, rather than rushing into a series of events because a deadline is approaching. Victoria can use these years to rethink its public spaces, cultural infrastructure, streetscapes and accessibility, while also giving the wider Gozitan community a genuine role in what is being created.

The experience of Valletta 2018 should be an important reference point.

There is much from Valletta's year as European Capital of Culture that should be retained and built upon. It demonstrated what can happen when a city receives international attention and when culture is used as a means of regeneration rather than simply entertainment. But there were also shortcomings, frustrations and missed opportunities. Victoria 2031 should study both sides of that experience. There is little point in repeating mistakes simply because they were made before.

Indeed, Victoria should aim to go further.

The opportunity exists to be imaginative: to use Gozo's landscape, history, traditions and contemporary cultural identity in ways that do not merely reproduce familiar images of the island. The stated "Island of Islands" concept already points towards a programme that can examine Gozo's communities, environment, identity and future, including the question of whether young people can continue to build their lives there.

The title can also become a catalyst for economic development. Tourism should certainly benefit, but the objective should not simply be to bring more people to Gozo for one year. The greater prize would be to attract visitors throughout the year, encourage cultural tourism, create opportunities for local businesses and establish projects that remain useful long after 2031.

There is, however, one essential condition: the people entrusted with delivering this must be selected for their ability to do the job.

This is too important to become another exercise in political patronage. The organisation needs people with imagination, managerial ability and an understanding of culture, business, tourism and European funding. Government support will obviously be necessary, but political proximity should never be the qualification for a position.

Victoria has earned this opportunity. Gozo has earned it. Malta has earned the international recognition that comes with it.

The task now is to ensure that when 2031 arrives, people will not simply remember a year of concerts and spectacles. They will be able to point to a Victoria that is more attractive, more culturally vibrant, more economically resilient and more confident about its place in Europe.

The hard work has produced the title. The harder work starts now.