Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Estonia in the Community programmes in the field of culture (COM(98)0239 - C4-0321/98 - 98/0147(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 17)

Recital 3a (new)

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Whereas culture plays a fundamental role in bringing peoples together and in the emergence of European citizenship; whereas the applicant countries should therefore be involved in this process;

(Amendment 18)

Recital 3b (new)

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Whereas the revival of cultural activity will have positive effects on the economic and social development of the applicant countries and on their democratic functioning;

(Amendment 19)

Recital 3c (new)

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Whereas, with reference to Article 128 of the EC Treaty, it is important to foster cultural expression in the applicant countries, while respecting their cultural diversity and the minorities of which they are composed.

(Amendment 20)

Recital 3d (new)

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Whereas, irrespective of the transitional stage in which the European Union's cultural programmes find themselves, it is essential to involve the countries concerned on a lasting basis and at least during this intermediate three-year period;

(Amendment 21)

Recital 3e (new)

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Whereas revenue originating in third countries is earmarked for the abovementioned programmes and entered as such on the corresponding expenditure line.

(Amendment 22)

Decision, 2nd paragraph (new)

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The annual breakdown of appropriations intended to finance this operation shall, pursuant to Article 109 of the Europe Agreement establishing an association referred to in the first recital, appear in Section III, Part B, Annex IV, of the budget of the European Union;

(Amendment 23)

Association Council draft decision

Annex I (7)

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7. Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 5 of the Decision on Kaleidoscope, Article 5 of the Decision on Ariane and Article 7 of the Decision on Raphael, Estonia will be invited to any coordination meetings on questions concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the Programme Committees. The Commission will inform Estonia about the results of such regular meetings.

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7.

Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 5 of the Decision on Kaleidoscope, Article 5 of the Decision on Ariane and Article 7 of the Decision on Raphael, Estonia will be invited to any coordination meetings on questions concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the Programme Committees, to which Estonia may send an observer in order to benefit directly from the lessons of Community experience and possibly express its point of view, without however being able directly to influence the decisions.

(Amendment 24)

Association Council draft decision

Annex I (8)

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8. The language to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other administrative arrangements for the programmes will be one of the official languages of the Community.

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8.

The language or languages to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other administrative arrangements for the programmes will be the official languages of the Community. This should not however have the effect of completely excluding the language or languages of Estonia, especially at the level of informal negotiations.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Estonia in the Community programmes in the field of culture (COM(98)0239 - C4-0321/98 - 98/0147(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(98)0239) - 98/0147(CNS) ((OJ C 182, 12.6.1998, p. 11.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 128(3) in conjunction with Article 228(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty (C4-0321/98),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on External Economic Relations (A4-0301/98),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.