A4-0106/99

Decision on common position (EC) 47/98 adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community action for the 'European Capital of Culture' event for the years 2005 to 2019 (9268/1/98 - C4-0493/98 - 97/0290(COD))(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council 9268/1/98 - C4-0493/98 - 97/0290(COD)) ((OJ C 285, 14.9.1998, p. 5.)),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 152, 18.5.1998, p. 55.)) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council COM(97)0549 ((OJ C 362, 28.11.1997, p. 12.)),

- having regard to the amended Commission proposal COM(98)0350 ((OJ C 208, 4.7.1998, p. 6.)),

- having regard to Article 189b(2)(c) of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 70 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to its declaration of intended rejection of the common position ((Minutes of 13.1.1999, Part II, Item 4.)),

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media (A4-0106/99),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Calls on the Commission to support Parliament's amendments in the opinion it is required to deliver pursuant to Article 189b(2)(d) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to approve all Parliament's amendments, amend its common position accordingly and definitively adopt the act;

4. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and the Commission.

(Amendment 1)

Recital 11

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(11) Whereas the Community has in the past made a contribution to the 'European City of Culture' and the 'European Cultural Month' events under the Kaleidoscope Programme, which is due to expire in 1998;

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(11)

Whereas the Community has in the past made a contribution to the 'European City of Culture' and the 'European Cultural Month' events under the Kaleidoscope Programme, which is due to expire in 1999;

(Amendment 2)

Article 2, 1st paragraph

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Each Member State may nominate a city as European Capital of Culture, in turn, as set out in Annex I. Any such nomination shall be notified to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions no later than four years before the event in question is due to begin.

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One city of a Member State shall be designated as European Capital of Culture, in turn, as set out in Annex I. The chronological order set out in Annex I may be altered by mutual agreement between the Member States concerned. The nomination or nominations shall be notified to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions by the Member State concerned, possibly accompanied by a recommendation from the latter, no later than four years before the event in question is due to begin.

(Amendment 3)

Article 2, 1st paragraph a (new)

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The Commission shall each year form a selection panel which shall issue a report on the nomination or nominations judged against the objectives and characteristics of this action. The selection panel shall be composed of seven leading independent figures who are experts on the cultural sector, of whom two shall be appointed by the European Parliament, two by the Council, two by the Commission and one by the Committee of the Regions. The selection panel shall submit its report to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council.

(Amendment 4)

Article 2, 2nd paragraph

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Without prejudice to possible alteration, by mutual agreement between the Member States concerned, of the chronological order set out in Annex I, the Council, acting on a recommendation from the Commission, shall officially designate each city as a European Capital of Culture for the year for which it has been nominated.

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The European Parliament may forward an opinion to the Commission on the nomination or nominations not later than three months after receipt of the report. The Council, acting on a recommendation from the Commission drawn up in the light of the opinion of the European Parliament and of the selection panel's report, shall officially designate the city in question as a European Capital of Culture for the year for which it has been nominated.

(Amendment 5)

Article 2a (new)

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Article 2a

The nomination shall include a cultural project of European dimension, based principally on cultural cooperation, in accordance with the objectives and action provided for by Article 128 of the EC Treaty.

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The submission shall specify how the nominated city intends:

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- to highlight artistic movements and styles shared by Europeans which it has inspired or to which it has made a significant contribution;

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- to promote events involving people active in culture from other cities in Member States and leading to lasting cultural cooperation, and to foster their movement within the European Union;

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- to support and develop creative work, which is an essential element in any cultural policy;

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- to ensure the mobilisation and participation of large sections of the population and, as a consequence, the social impact of the action and its continuity beyond the year of the events;

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- to encourage the reception of citizens of the Union and the widest possible dissemination of the various events by employing all forms of multimedia;

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- to promote dialogue between European cultures and those from other parts of the world and, in that spirit, to optimise the opening up to, and understanding of, others, which are fundamental cultural values;

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- to exploit the historic heritage, urban architecture and quality of life in the city.

(Amendment 6)

Article 4

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Each designated city should organise a programme of cultural events highlighting the city's own culture and cultural heritage as well as its place in the common cultural heritage, and involving people concerned with cultural activities from other European countries with a view to establishing lasting cooperation.

In principle this programme should last one year but as an exception designated cities may opt for a shorter period of time. Cities may choose to involve their surrounding region in their programme. A linkage between the programmes of the designated cities of the same year should be made.

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Each city

shall organise a programme of cultural events highlighting the city's own culture and cultural heritage as well as its place in the common cultural heritage, and involving people concerned with cultural activities from other European countries with a view to establishing lasting cooperation. In addition to the foregoing, the list indicating planning and evaluation criteria set out in Annex II should be taken into account to the greatest possible extent by the designated city in planning its programme. In principle this programme should last one year but as an exception designated cities may opt for a shorter period of time. Cities may choose to involve their surrounding region in their programme. A linkage between the programmes of the designated cities of the same year should be made.

(Amendment 7)

Article 5

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Article 5

In order to maintain the cultural value of the action:

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Deleted

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- the list indicating planning and evaluation criteria set out in Annex II should be taken into account to the greatest possible extent by cities in planning their programme;

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- designated cities should outline their programme, at least six months before the event is due to begin, to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions;

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- the criteria referred to in the first indent should also be taken into account by the Commission in its evaluation of each city's programme.

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The Commission shall set up a Guidance Panel consisting of personalities well known in cultural circles. Two of the members of this Panel shall be appointed by the European Parliament, two by the Council, two by the Commission and one by the Committee of the Regions. The Guidance Panel shall give advice to the Commission on the implementation of this decision. If so requested by the Member States or third countries concerned, the Guidance Panel may offer them advice on their choice of city to nominate.

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(Amendment 8)

Article 6

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Each year the Commission shall produce a report evaluating the results of the previous year's event, including an analysis by the organisers of the latter. This report shall be presented to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions. The Commission may also make any proposals for revision of this Decision which it judges necessary for the smooth operation of this action.

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Each year the Commission shall produce a report evaluating the results of the previous year's event, including an analysis by the organisers of the latter. This report shall be presented to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions. The Commission may also make any proposals for revision of this Decision which it judges necessary for the smooth operation of this action

and, in particular, with a view to the future enlargement of the Union.