Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a support programme in the field of books and reading (Ariane) (94/C 324/04) (Text with EEA relevance) COM(94) 356 final - 94/0189(COD)

(Submitted by the Commission on 25 October 1994)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 128 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,

Whereas the Treaty entrusts the Commission with the task of:

- contributing to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity,

- encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, supporting and supplementing their action, particularly as regards artistic and literary creation,

- fostering cooperation with third countries and the competent international organizations in the sphere of culture, and in particular the Council of Europe;

Whereas promoting translation contributes to knowledge and dissemination of the culture and history of the European peoples, to maintaining the diversity of literary creation and the literary heritage expressed in the various national and regional languages, and to intercultural exchanges and to promoting the access of citizens - and in particular the less-favoured ones - to culture;

Whereas it is necessary to encourage high-quality translation of literary works within the Community, in particular by advanced training in this field;

Whereas the Community institutions have recognized the importance of knowledge and dissemination of literary works, by means of translation in particular, as is apparent from:

- the resolution of the Council and of the Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs, meeting within the Council, of 9 November 1987 on the promotion of translation of important works of European culture (1),

- the resolution of the Council and the Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs, meeting within the Council, of 18 May 1989 concerning the promotion of books and reading (2),

- the Parliament resolution on promoting books and reading in Europe (3),

- the conclusions of the Council and the Ministers of Culture meeting within the Council of 12 November 1992 on guidelines for Community cultural action (4),

- the resolution of the Council and the Ministers meeting within the Council of 17 May 1993 on the promotion of the translation of contemporary European dramatic works (5);

Whereas the Commission's communication of 27 July 1994 on 'European Community action in support of culture`, which makes books and reading a priority area, sets out the framework for incentive measures to support and complement the efforts of Member States, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity;

Whereas, in the initial phase, Community measures to promote books and reading are centred on the translation of literature and drama and reference works in the cultural field, accompanied by support measures in both the preparatory and follow-up stages,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Community shall set out from 1996 an action programme to promote knowledge and dissemination of European artistic and literary creation, notably by means of translation (the Ariane programme), hereinafter referred to as 'the programme`.

Article 2

The aims of the programme shall be as follows:

- to encourage wider dissemination of works of contemporary literature that are representative of the culture of the Member States, giving priority to translations of works in the lesser known languages of the Community and promoting them through emblematic measures,

- to contribute, by means of translation, to the dissemination of contemporary drama, to offer European audiences a varied repertoire that is representative of the cultures of the Member States,

- to foster the dissemination of reference works with a view to promoting knowledge of the culture and history of the European peoples, particularly in the areas referred to in Article 128 (2) and (4) of the Treaty,

- to support and complement efforts at national and regional level with a series of measures at Community level relating in particular to cooperation in the form of networks and partnerships, initial and further training, and research.

Article 3

The activities described in the Annex shall be carried out in pursuit of the aims set out in Article 2. They shall be implemented according to the procedure laid down in Article 6.

Article 4

In carrying out the programme the Community and the Member States shall foster cooperation with non-member countries and cooperation with competent international organizations in the cultural sphere, and in particular the Council of Europe; every care shall be taken in relations with the latter to avoid duplication and ensure the complementarity of the measures proposed, whilst respecting the identity and autonomy of each institution and organization.

Specific arrangements are set out in the Annex for opening up the programme to the countries of central and eastern Europe that have signed and ratified association agreements with the European Community containing a clause on cultural affairs.

Special attention shall also be paid in the framework of the relations of the Community and the Member States with third countries to particular countries that intend to make translation a priority area in their cultural cooperation programme.

Article 5

The Commission shall be responsible for implementing the programme.

For the purpose of carrying out that test the Commission shall be assisted by the Advisory Committee for the incentive measures in the cultural field laid down in Article 5 of Decision No . . . of . . . concerning the Kaleidoscope 2000 programme.

Article 6

The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.

The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask for its position to be recorded in the minutes.

The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.

Article 7

After the programme has been in operation for two years, and within six months of that period, the Commission, having consulted the Committee referred to in Article 5, shall present a report on the result achieved to the European Parliament and the Council, and, where necessary, make appropriate proposals.

On the expiry of the programme, the Commission, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 6, shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation and results of the programme.

Article 8

The programme, containing the practical information on the organizational structures at national level able to provide technical assistance for cultural projects, the deadlines for submitting applications and the documentation which must accompany the request, shall be published annually in the 'C` series of the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 9

This Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 10

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

(1) OJ No C 309, 19. 11. 1987, p. 3.

(2) OJ No C 183, 20. 7. 1989, p. 1.

(3) OJ No C 42, 15. 2. 1993, p. 182.

(4) OJ No C 336, 19. 12. 1992, p. 1.

(5) OJ No C 160, 12. 6. 1993, p. 1.

ANNEX

COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMME IN THE FIELD OF BOOKS AND READING

Incentive measures under the Ariane programme

The incentive measures are set out below together with a brief indication of how they are to be applied. The practical arrangements will be finalized later, in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 6.

Section I: Promotion and circulation

1. Translation grants

(a) Grants for the translation of works of contemporary literature to ensure wider dissemination through publication

Grants are provided for the translation of works of contemporary literature (novels, short stories, literary essays, literary histories, biographies, plays, poetry) that are representative of the culture of their country of origin and likely to appeal to a broad European audience.

Contemporary literature shall be taken to mean literature published for the first time in the 20th century, with priority being given to works published for the first time since 1945. In exceptional cases, literary works published at the end of the 19th century will be eligible.

In order to qualify, works must already have been translated and published in two Community languages (in addition to the original language). The grant is to subsidize translation into two additional languages.

In order to give priority to less well-known languages, works written in these languages can be directly eligible for a grant to subsidize translation into two additional Community languages, without having been previously translated into other Community languages. Grants are also provided for the translation of works whose publication on the European market is not regarded as viable without a Community subsidy.

Grant applications must be sent by one or more publishers from a Community Member State to the Commission, Cultural Unit (200, rue de la Loi, B-1049 Brussels). The application submitted by the publisher(s) must include the agreement of the translator(s). The grant may cover up to 100 % of the translator's fee negotiated according to the usual market practice.

The publisher must undertake clearly to acknowledge the translator and the Commission contribution.

The publishers must state that they hold any rights to the publication and/or translation of the work which is the subject of the application.

The works will be selected twice a year on the basis of the following priorities:

- the work's literary merit,

- the promotion and circulation of the literature of Community countries and in particular works in less well-known languages.

(b) Grants for the translation of works of drama with a view to wider dissemination through public performances

Grants are made for the translation of works of drama that have already been performed on stage or broadcast in the audiovisual media and have already received some critical and popular acclaim.

Priority will be given to contemporary works written since 1945.

The works nominated must already have been translated into at least two languages; at least one of the translations must be based on a specific plan for a public performance.

The initial application must be submitted by managers, directors or producers from a Community Member State with a view to staging a public performance of the play. The application must be made simultaneously to the Community and to the liaison offices which must issue an opinion on whether or not the works nominated qualify as priorities.

The final selection of works to be translated will be made on the basis above all of the quality of the works nominated. As concerns the choice of the translations a balance will be ensured between the translations into widely-known languages and the one into less well-known languages, to increase the chances of the works reaching a large and diverse audience.

The subsidy will take the form of a translation grant of up to ECU 3 500. It in no way affects any royalities that might be due to the authors or translators in connection with the performance, broadcast or publication of the translated work.

The liaison offices will act as the depositaries of the translations completed with the Commission's assistance and must ensure that the translations are given only to those interested in performing, broadcasting or publishing the work and having to this end obtained the agreement of the rights holders. This provision applies mutatis mutandis to the people referred to above.

(c) Grants for the translation of reference works with a view to wider dissemination of information between the professionals and the competent authorities of the Member States

Grants for the translation of reference works are intended to facilitate the exchange of information and pooling of experience, thereby fostering cooperation between Member States in the areas referred to in Article 128 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the areas to which the Community has accorded priority in its cultural policy.

The Community has the potential to contribute a significant added value with this type of action. However, given the huge field that could be covered, grants for the translation of reference works will, at least initially, be developed in the form of an experimental, model scheme of limited scope.

Grants for the translation of reference works will be given to studies and reports dealing with the practices and systems which exist in other Member States in the sphere of culture which help to highlight the questions of mutual interest relating in particular to Article 128 (2) and (4).

The grant application must be accompanied by the information needed to establish that the work to be translated would indeed make a substantial contribution to knowledge of the area in question, as well as an indication of the target languages and the written agreement of the author and translator.

A maximum of 100 reference works may be translated into at least two languages over a five-year period.

The nominations will be made to the Commission by the competent authorities of the Member States and the final selection will be made in the light of the interest expressed in the translation of these works by the representatives appointed to the Advisory Committee for the incentive measures in the field of culture. The works will be translated into as many languages as deemed necessary.

The Community contribution, supplied after the written agreement of the author has been obtained, may be made in one of two ways, depending on the origin of the work:

- if the work nominated for translation was presented by a publisher, acting through the intermediary of the Member State, with a view to placing it on the European market, Community aid will be provided on similar terms to those laid down for grants to translations of works of contemporary literature (Section I-1.a),

- if the work nominated for translation through the intermediary of the Member State is not intended for commercial exploitation (e.g. it is to be translated on behalf of a university, research centre or specialist institute, etc.), Community aid will be provided in the form of a grant to help the translators carry out their work on similar terms to those set out for translation of works of drama (Section I-1.b).

The Commission will periodically distribute a list with details of the works translated under this scheme.

2. Emblematic action: Aristeion Prizes, synergy with translation grants

Aristeion Prizes: European Literature Prize and European Translation Prize

By publicizing works of outstanding merit the Aristeion Prizes (one for literature, the other for translation) contribute to the knowledge and dissemination of literary creation and offer an incentive to writers and translators, notably those of new creators.

Without ruling out the possibility of changes being made to the practical arrangements for the prizes under the procedure provided for in Article 6 of this Decision, the main rules governing this scheme, as published in Official Journal of the European Communities No C 35, 15. 2. 1990, are adopted as they currently stand.

The works nominated for the European literature prize are therefore automatically eligible for a grant towards the cost of their translation into at least two additional languages, on similar terms to those set out for literary works (Section I.1.a) provided an application to this effect is submitted directly to the Commission by a publisher.

Section II: Support measures

Supporting translation is not an end in itself, but a means to promote knowledge and dissemination of European cultures and literary creation. Community measures to assist translation must therefore be combined, in both the preparatory and the follow-up stages, with other Community activities aimed at stimulating and supporting the efforts of the competent authorities in the Member States and the professionals in the field, their role being to introduce a European dimension.

1. Fostering synergies at European level through networks and the development of partnerships

Raising standards in literary translation in conjunction with networks and professional organizations such as the International Federation of Translators, the European Council of Associations of Literary Translators and the European network of schools of literary translation, by supporting initiatives aimed in particular at:

- promoting literary translation, particularly translation of a high standard,

- the pooling of experience and expertise between professional translators,

- encouraging the development of partnership schemes in cooperation with regional authorities and/or other public or private operators, with a view to stimulating aid for the translation of literature in Europe,

- encouraging partnership arrangements aimed at facilitating access to information needed for the dissemination of works in translation, notably through the use of new technologies and other multimedia tools.

Supporting the initiatives developed by networks of libraries in Europe and professional organizations in the field, aimed at pooling experience at European level on the promotion and development of European literature and other themes of common interest. This activity complements the schemes developed by DG XIII in the field of library automation.

Supporting initiatives and encounters developed by local and regional authorities, sometimes in conjunction with professional networks and in particular networks of small and medium-sized publishers, library networks and non-profit associations or foundations concerned with books and literature. The main aim is to promote and facilitate access to and dissemination and knowledge of European literature, among other things by helping to open up the possibilities offered by new multimedia tools.

Supporting the evaluation and dissemination of the results of research and initiatives in this area.

2. Support measures concerned more specifically with making literature more accessible to the public and to young people in particular

Selective measures to support efforts to promote reading, particularly where these help to spread knowledge, via translation, of the literature of different countries and regions of the Community, undertaken at the initiative of the competent authorities of the Member States (exhibitions, European days, events for the general public, etc.),

support for the exchange of information and experience between the competent authorities and professionals of the Member States, particularly as regards promoting reading among young people (meetings of experts on particular themes, research, etc.),

support for pilot and innovatory projects with a European dimension aimed at promoting reading and European literature among young people, carried out by the competent authorities, particularly local authorities and structures with a quasi-educational purpose, associations, networks, foundations (including research and pilot project to fight against illiteracy and deleteracy),

support for the evaluation and dissemination of the results of the pilot experiments and research carried out in this area.

3. Further training and research

(a) Further training of literary translators

In view of the small number of translators capable of translating works of literature, or at least translating from and into the less well-known languages, and the highly specialized nature of this type of further training, the Community complements the efforts of the competent authorities of the Member States by providing support for the further training of literary translators to help raise standards.

This support is provided in the form of grants and allowances to cover the costs of travel, advance training courses and/or contributions to seminars or meetings on aspects of translation.

Grants and other forms of Community aid provided for under this heading are made for educational projects presented by associations, foundations, colleges and institutes specialized in the field of literary translation, after consulting the competent authorities of the Member States.

(b) Complementary training measures for professionals working to promote knowledge and dissemination of European literature

Community assistance may be given, where appropriate, to specific training seminars organized by professionals or public organizations engaged in promoting and disseminating European literature. It will be provided to complement initiatives developed via the relevant networks and in response to specific applications submitted in connection with meetings organized in this context (Section II.1.). Priority will be given to themes of common interest relating to Article 128 (4).

(c) Studies and research

As a prelude to the grants for the translation of reference works referred to in section II.3.a), Community support is also available for joint research projects between several Community countries, particularly those undertaken via the networks or public partnerships referred to in section II.1 and relating to themes of common interest in the areas cited in Article 128 of the EC Treaty. Priority will be given to projects involving the pooling of results and synthesis of research carried out separately by the Member States, with a view to enabling all those interested to derive maximum benefit from the research and experiments carried out in the Community and avoid duplication.

Community support will be restricted - in the first phase - to joint research projects in the field of books and reading and those investigating access to and the dissemination of European literature within the Community, taking into account the direct and indirect impact of other Community policies in this area.

Limited, selective aid may be given to those engaged in innovative research projects that are still in the preparatory stage but already involve participants from at least three Member States. The aid is to help them find new partners so that the research may be organized and carried out effectively (study visits, feasibility studies, etc.).

Support will be provided for the evaluation and dissemination of the results of the research carried out in this area.

Section III: Cooperation with non-member countries

1. Specific arrangements for opening up the Ariane programme (Section I and II) to countries of central and eastern Europe that are a party to Europe agreements

In line with the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council (21 to 22 June 1993), a number of programmes have to be opened up to countries of central and eastern Europe that are party to Europe agreements (Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Slovenia, Romania). This applies particularly to agreements in the cultural field. Title 7 of the European agreements on culture refers explicitly to translation. Sections I and II of the Ariane programme must therefore be opened up to these other countries. The Association Councils will decide the terms of this participation. The countries of central and eastern Europe will themselves meet the extra costs arising from their involvement. If necessary, and under certain conditions, a contribution could be made from the Community budget.

2. Promoting knowledge and dissemination of literary creation, particularly via translation, in the dialogue between the Community and its Member States and certain third countries

Certain third countries have made translation a priority area for cultural cooperation in their mutual relations with the Community and its Member States. This is the case, for example, of the agreements with certain Latin American countries and CIS states.

The Community and the Member States could therefore develop cooperation in the field of translation on the basis of applications submitted in the framework of the Joint Committee provided for in the agreements in question.

Efforts will be made to achieve synergy with the competent international organizations, and the Council of Europe in particular, while respecting the identity and autonomy of each institution and organization.