# EUR-Lex - 52004PC0211 - EN

Important legal notice

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# 52004PC0211

**Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a programme of Community action to promote organisations active at European level in the area of culture amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty /* COM/2004/0211 final - COD 2003/0115 */ **

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OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a programme of Community action to promote organisations active at European level in the area of culture AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty

2003/0115 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a programme of Community action to promote organisations active at European level in the area of culture

1. INTRODUCTION

Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty provides that the Commission shall deliver an opinion on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament at second reading. The Commission sets out below its opinion on the 5 amendments proposed by Parliament.

2. BACKGROUND

>TABLE POSITION>

3. PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Based on Article 151 of the EC Treaty, this Decision is intended, following the implementation of the new Financial Regulation applicable to the budget of the European Communities, to establish a basic act for awarding grants to promote organisations active at European level and support specific activities in the area of culture.

This programme will cover certain former budget lines in Part A, Chapter 30 of the budget, particularly those aimed at supporting the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages and Mercator, protecting the sites of Nazi concentration camps as historical monuments, and awarding grants to organisations of European cultural interest.

4. OPINION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S AMENDMENTS

Total number of amendments: 5

Amendments accepted in full: 5

The Commission accepts three amendments of a formal nature (amendments 1 to 3) designed to make the text consistent with the extension of the budget earmarking system until 2005.

The Commission also accepts two technical amendments (amendments 4 and 5) which seek to introduce two derogations from Article 112 (2) of the Financial Regulation [1] so as to take account of the entry into force of this new programme from 2004.

[1] Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (OJ L248, 16.09.2002)

5. CONCLUSION

Pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission amends its proposal as set out above.