COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 02.10.1996 
COM(96) 456 final 
95/0263 (CNS) 
Amended proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on the adoption of a multiannual 
programme to promote the linguistic diversity of the Community in the information 
society 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
The Commission hereby presents a modified proposal for a Council decision amending 
COM(95)486 - The Multilingual Information Society (MLIS)-
The modified proposal incorporates those amendments adopted by the European 
Parliament during its' plenary session on 21.6.96, which were accepted by the 
Commission. 
1. Introduction 
a) Background 
The Commission adopted its' proposal on 8.11.95, and it was formally transmitted to the 
EP, the Council, the ESC and the COR on 23.11.1995. 
The Economic and Social Committee adopted a favourable opinion on 30.5.19961, the 
Committee of the Regions adopted a favourable opinion on 13.6.19962. 
The European Parliament adopted a favourable opinion on 21.6.19963 and proposed 56 
amendments to the Commission's proposal4 
b) Purpose of the Commission proposal 
The purpose of the proposal is the adoption of a Council decision for a 3-year programme 
(The Multilingual Information Society - MLIS) to promote the linguistic diversity of the 
Community in the Information Society 
2. EP amendments accepted bv the Commission 
Of the 56 amendments adopted by the EP, 19 are accepted in full, 15 are accepted 
partially or in principle, making a total of 34. 
The Commission accepted those amendments that 
- are coherent with views elaborated in the Commission's Communication (MLIS) 
- are coherent with Community policies, improve cohesion, synergy, transparency, 
management 
- improve clarity and precision 
The short evaluation of the various amendments is presented in the annex to this 
memorandum 
^ES 692/96 
2CDR 6/96 fin. 
3PE 250.124 
4PE 250.124 
3. Amendments not accepted bv the Commission 
Of the 56 amendments, 22 could not be accepted. The main reasons for non-acceptance 
are : 
proposed change of the legal base (and the various amendments associated 
with it) 
duplication or overlap of arguments 
non-compliance with subsidiarity as interpreted by the Commission for this 
programme 
non-compliance with budget availability 
The short evaluation of the various amendments is presented in the annex to this 
memorandum. 
4T Conclusion, 
In accordance with Art. 189a of the EU Treaty, the Commission amends its' initial 
proposal, incorporating the accepted and partially accepted amendments. 
Annex 
Position of the Commission on the amendments presented bv the European Parliament 
Amendment 1: 
Commission: 
Amendment 2: 
Commission: 
Amendment 3: 
Commission: 
Amendment 4: 
Commission: 
Amendment 5: 
Commission: 
Amendment 6: 
Commission: 
Amendment 7. 
Commission: 
Amendment 8: 
Commission: 
Amendment 9: 
Commission: 
Amendment 10: 
Commission: 
Amendment 11 : 
Commission: To address proposal to the EP and the Council (in view of the proposed 
change of the legal base implying co-decision; see amendment 2) 
Not accepted as the change of the legal base is not accepted 
Change the legal base to include Art 128 (1, 2), in addition to proposed Art 
130(3) by the Commission 
Not accepted. The principal objective is to encourage industrial actions to 
provide multilingual services. This suffices to chose one legal base (130). 
There are cultural, social aspects or spin-offs, but that should not lead to a 
double legal base. 
Reference is made to an EP resolution on minority languages 
Accepted as a recital instead of a citation 
Reference to be made to an EP resolution on languages and Catalan 
Not accepted; the Decision text becomes unnecessarily long and mentioning 
one specific language does not reflect the intention to treat all languages on an 
equal footing. 
Reference to be made to other EP resolutions regarding the IGC 
Not accepted, citations or recitals should have a direct link with the MLIS 
proposal 
Citation to take into account the opinion of the CoR 
Accepted because the CoR makes a valuable contribution and the regions 
often have special interests for languages spoken there. 
Recital to make reference to the promotion of linguistic diversity as a means to 
conserve the cultural linguistic heritage with reference to Art 128. 
This amendment is conceptually linked to the proposed change of the legal 
base. The Commission proposes an alternative making reference to the 
essential content of Art 128(4). 
Recital comparing the importance of cultural, social and economic aspects 
Not accepted, the amendment does not really add value to all other texts 
already referring to cultural aspects. 
Recital suggesting that there should be no discrimination between people on 
the basis of language and other personal circumstances. 
Accepted, reflects arguments in the MLIS Communication. 
Recital; Europeans should have access in their vernacular language. 
Accepted goal of MLIS 
Recital; languages not used in the Information Society will degrade 
Accepted, one of the Commission messages since long. 
4-
Amendment 12: Recital, suggesting the IS will help the cultural and linguistic heritage to florish 
Commission: Not accepted, not because of disagreement but because the same arguments 
tend to be repeated too often, and this does not improve the transparency of 
the decision. Overlap with the Commission's 5th recital 
Amendment 13: Recital, to add a reference to G7 meetings about the Information Society. 
Commission: Accepted, but with a change of the order of the phrases 
Amendment 14: Recital ta replace the word "industry" by "language industry" 
Commission: The proposed narrowing does not conform to the intention to address the 
industry at large ; but "language industry" can be added in the recital as 
proposed by the Commission 
Amendment 15: Recital meant not too refer explicitly to "industry" 
Commission: Partially accepted by adding the phrase "all concerned players" to "industry" 
Amendment 16: Amendment meant to delete a Commission recital (linked to amendment 13) 
Commission: Not accepted for purely technical reasons 
Amendment 17: Amendment to delete the Commission's 5th recital (linked to amendment 12) 
Commission: Not accepted, because amendment 12 is not accepted. 
Amendment 18: Recital referring explicitly to non-official languages 
Commission: Not accepted, because languages should not be classified but rather treated as 
equal, at least in MLIS 
Amendment 19: Recital; in fact these are 2 amendments to one recital, referring to (1) the 
responsabilities of the EU for the protection of linguistic heritage and (2) 
improving cohesion in the EU 
Commission: Responsabilities of the EU in this matter are not so explicitly stated in the 
Treaty and are in any case subsidiary responsabilities. Improving cohesion is 
accepted 
Amendment 20: Recital referring to minority languages 
Commission: Sympathy for the amendment, but the MLIS is not capable to ensure survival 
of minority languages. 
Amendment 21: Recital referring to the duty of the Community to set up an infrastructure for 
language resources 
Commission: Partially accepted, but the wording "duty" is too strong 
Amendment 22: Recital, referring to cultural heritage 
Commission: No fundamental objection to the amendment, but it is really duplicating and 
overlaping other recitals 
Amendment 23: Recital, referring to the important role of SMEs 
Commission: Agrees, accepted 
Amendment 24: Recital referring to cooperation with other programmes, IDA in particular 
Commission: Accepted, this conforms to Commission intentions. 
Amendment 25: Recital suggesting some Member States to use structural funds to finance 
national (language) developments 
Commission: Welcomes the suggestion, which really adds value _ 
Amendment 26: Recital suggesting "structured" cooperation instead of mere cooperation 
Commission: Agrees, accepted 
Amendment 27: Recital, linking language learning actions to MLIS 
Commission: Accepts the importance and complementarity of language learning, but 
SOCRATES delà with language learning in schools. A recital in fact referring 
to SOCRATES should not appear in MLIS. 
Amendment 28: Recital suggesting to finance cooperation with third countries from the 
Community (MLIS ?) budget 
Commission: Not accepted; only small sums are available too facilitate cooperation, so no 
suggestions shall be made that substantial sums are available 
Amendment 29: Recital, suggesting to finance developments for minority languages 
Commission: Not accepted, this is a matter for Member States and moreover, there is no 
budget for this 
Amendment 30: Recital introducing interim programme evaluation 
Commission: Sympathises with the idea, but it must be practical. Evaluation in a too early 
stage makes no sense, so the modification is for an evaluation report 2 years 
after the start 
Amendment 31 : 
Commission: 
Amendment 32: 
Commission: 
Amendment 33: 
Commission: 
Amendment 34: 
Commission: 
Amendment 35: 
Commission: 
Amendment 36: 
Commission: 
Amendment 37: 
Commission: 
Amendment 38: 
Commission: Article 1, amendment reflects the (proposed) change of the legal base. 
Not accepted as amendment 2 is not accepted 
Article 2, a small addition to letter c) of the article, by referring to 
bothCommunity and Member States. 
Accepted 
Article 3, introducing the budgetary reference amount for the programme (20 
MECU); and minor changes 
Some sympathy, but cannot be accepted by the Commission because reference 
amounts should not be mentioned and the additional resources can at present 
not be found in the budget; minor change is an improvement. 
Article 3 : the amendment refers to financial support for third countries and 
international organisations. 
Cannot be accepted, see also amendment 20. 
Article 4, stating the Commission's responsability for coordination with other 
Community programmes 
Obvious, but useful to be mentioned explicitly 
Article 4, the amendment limits the number of representatives per Member 
State in the Programme Committee 
Has sympathy with the idea to increase costftenefit, but the restriction is too 
rigid and not in agreement with the Comitology ruling 
Article 5, sets the limit above which project proposals need voting by the 
programme Committee, to 1 MECU (EU contribution) 
Agrees, but wonders whether other Institutions will agree. 
Article 6, introducing some concepts concerning programme evaluation 
Agrees with principles with some modification (see amendment 30) 
6 
Amendment 39: Annex I, 1, introducing the important role of SMEs 
Commission: Agrees 
Amendment 40: Annex I, 1, suggesting European actors should operate on the global market 
Commission: Agrees, but suggests a somewhat simplified phrase 
Amendment 41: Annex 1,1 ; to promote aspects of standardisation for language resources 
Commission: Fully agrees 
Amendment 42: Annex 1,1 ; proposes ELRA to report regularly to the Commission 
Commission: Not accepted, ELRA does not depend on the Commission and thus cannot be 
obliged by the Commission; moreover, this organisation will not be 
mentionned in the final text. 
Amendment 43: Annex 1,1 ; proposal to investigate support for databases with limited 
economic potential 
Commission: Agrees to investigate (not necessarily to support eventually) 
Amendment 44: Annex 1,1, proposal that standards implemented should be officially 
recognised in the Member States 
Commission: Agrees that standards should have some recognised status, but this issue is far 
too complex to refer to it in the way Parliament suggests. 
Amendment 45: Linguistic amendment, dropped from the list of amendments 
Amendment 46: Annex I, 2, proposal to finance lesser-used language projects in bi-lingual 
areas 
Commission: Does not want to commit to finance language-specific projects; the 
situation sketched is far too specific 
Amendment 47: Annex I, 2, introduces translation schools as actors 
Commission: Agrees, important, liaison with LEONARDO 
Amendment 48: Linguistic amendment, dropped out of the list of amendments 
Amendment 49: Annex I, 3, links the interoperability of information networks of the 
Community Institutions with MLIS. 
Commission: Has sympathy for the idea, but cannot accept that the MLIS is used as an 
instrument to achieve that goal 
Amendment 50: Annex I, 3, refers to pilot actions to be centred on lesser-used languages 
Commission: Does not agree to give the priority to certain languages, even if there is 
sympathy for the concern behind the proposal 
Amendment 51: Annex I, 3, links support for lesser-used languages to such support for the 
new official Community languages 
Commission: The reason for support for the new official languages in the context of the 
multilingual systems of the Community Institutions is obvious. To link this 
with lesser-used languages is not. Again,, the Commission has sympathy with 
the idea behind and may discuss with Member States concerned how this 
problem can be tackled. 
> 
Amendment 52; Annex I, 3 ; elaboration of synergies proposed between MLIS and other 
Community initiatives 
Commission: Agrees 
Amendment 53: 
Commission: Annex 11(2); small mainly textual changes ; elimination of the possibility to 
finance projects up to 100% is a very limited number of cases. 
Text changes accepted ; not accepted is the reference to projects financed up 
to 100% 
Amendment 54: Annex 11(5) ; proposal to emphasise promoting the use of advanced tools 
Commission: Accepted, improvement 
Amendment 55: Annex 11(6) ; proposal to be more precise in referring to the Financial 
Regulation. 
Commission: Welcomes precision 
Amendment 56 : with the views of national authorities. 
Annex 11(7) ; insists that support for (national) language observatories is in 
accordance 
Commission: Fully agrees, welcomes precision 
Amendment 57: Dropped, replaced by amendment 59 
Amendment 58: Annex 11(2) introduces a new partitioning of the budget envelope (20 MECU) 
by action line and makes 5 MECU out of the 20 MECU to depend on the 
Financial Perspectives (supposedly in Florence). 
Commission: Cannot accept financial envelopes in this Decision (no co-decision). The 
Commission refers to it's budget allocation as contained in the Financial 
Statement that is not part of the Decision however. 
Amendment 59: Annex H, 7, proposes that all MLIS supported actions refer in their published 
reports to this support and bear the EU flag. 
Commission: Agrees with the principle, but considers the flag a bit overdone. 
8 
Amended proposal for a Council Decision on the adoption of a multiannual 
programme to promote the linguistic diversity of the Community in the information 
society 
Original version 
The Council of the European Union, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing 
the European Community, and in 
particular Article 130(3) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the 
Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
European Parliament *, Modified version 
The Council of the European Union, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing 
the European Community, and in 
particular Article 130(3) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the 
Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
European Parliament ^ , 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
Economic and Social Committee^ , Having regard to the opinion of the 
Economic and Social Committee^ , 
Whereas the advent of the information 
society provides industry with new 
prospects for communication and trade on 
European and world markets which are 
marked by a rich linguistic and cultural 
diversity; 
Whereas industry must work out specific 
and adequate solutions to overcome the 
linguistic barriers if it is benefit fully from 
the advantages of the internal market and 
remain competitive on world markets; Having regard to the opinion of the 
Committee of the Regions3 
Whereas the advent of the information 
society provides industry and in particular 
the language industry with new prospects 
for communication and trade on European 
and world markets which are marked by a 
rich linguistic and cultural diversity; 
Whereas industry and all other players 
concerned must work out specific and 
adequate solutions to overcome the 
linguistic barriers if they are to benefit 
fully from the advantages of the internal 
market and remain competitive on world 
markets. 
OJNr.. OJ Nr.. 
OJNr.. OJ Nr. 
3 O.J. Nr 
°l 
Whereas it is necessary to encourage the 
use of technologies, tools and methods 
which reduce the cost of transferring 
information between languages, while also 
assuring the quality of translations, 
particularly in the case of literary 
translation, which requires a specific 
creative effort; Whereas the private sector in this field 
consists mainly of SMEs, which face 
considerable difficulties in addressing 
different language markets and must thus 
be supported, especially when considering 
their role as a source of employment. 
Whereas it is necessary to encourage the 
use of technologies, tools and methods 
which reduce the cost of transferring 
information between languages, while also 
assuring the quality of translations, 
particularly in the case of literary 
translation, which requires a specific 
creative effort; 
Whereas the European Council in Corfu 
on 24 and 25 June 1994 stressed the 
importance of the cultural and linguistic 
aspects of the information society, and 
whereas the European Council in Cannes 
on 26 and 27 June 1995, restated the 
importance to the European Union of its 
linguistic diversity; 
Whereas the emergence of the information 
society could afford the citizens of Europe 
greater access to information and offer an 
outstanding opportunity to exploit the 
cultural and linguistic wealth and diversity 
of the Community; Whereas the European Council meeting in 
Corfu on 24 and 25 June 1994, stressed 
the importance of the cultural and 
linguistic aspects of the information 
society, and whereas the European 
Council meeting in Cannes on 26 and 27 
June 1995, restated the importance to the 
Community of its linguistic diversity; 
whereas the G7 Conference of Ministers 
meeting in Brussels on 25 and 26 
February 1995, drew attention to the 
importance of linguistic and cultural 
diversity in the global information society; 
Whereas the emergence of the information 
society could afford citizens greater 
access to information and offer an 
outstanding opportunity to exploit the 
cultural and linguistic wealth and diversity 
of the Community; 
10 
Whereas language policies are a matter for 
the Member States, taking account of 
Community law; whereas, however, 
promoting the development of modern 
language processing tools and their use is 
a field of activity in which Community 
action is justified in order to achieve 
substantial economies of scale by 
stimulating suitable cooperation between 
those involved in the various language 
areas; whereas the measures to be taken at 
Community level must be commensurate 
with the objectives to be attained and 
concern only those fields which are likely 
to produce an added value for Europe; Whereas language policies are a matter for 
the Member States, taking account of 
Community law; whereas, however, 
promoting the development of modern 
language processing tools and their use is 
a field of activity in which Community 
action is justified in order to achieve 
substantial economies of scale by 
stimulating suitable cooperation between 
those involved in the various language 
areas insofar as this may create an added 
value for the Community or contribute to 
the social and economic cohesion of the 
Union; whereas the measures to be taken 
at Community level must be 
commensurate with the objectives to be 
attained and concern only those fields 
which are likely to produce an added 
value for the Community; 
Whereas the Member States could 
envisage using the structural funds within 
the present regulatory framework to 
protect and develop their linguistic 
heritage within the Information Society. 
Whereas the European Parliament 
adopted the resolution4 on measures in 
favour of minority languages and cultures 
; whereas the Council of Europe adopted 
the European Charter of regional or 
minority languages signed on 5 November 
1992. 
Whereas the Community should take into 
account the cultural and linguistic aspects 
of the Information Society. 
Whereas efforts must be made to ensure 
tfiat all European citizens have equal 
opportunities to participate in the 
information society, irrespective of their 
social, cultural, linguistic or geographical 
situation. 
Whereas it is essential to provide citizens 
with equitable access to information, for 
the latter to be available to them in their 
European vernacular language. 
4 O.J. NrC68, 14.3.1983 
W 
Whereas it is in the interests of the 
Community to support efforts to set up an 
infrastructure encouraging the creation 
and exploitation of the language resources 
required to improve language services and 
tools and give a boost to R&D work; 
Whereas the Community should also 
mobilise the language industries and help 
create an environment which is conducive 
to their expansion; 
Whereas the information and 
communications technology industries 
should be encouraged to draw up 
standards which take account of linguistic 
diversity and incorporate them in their 
products and applications; 
Whereas it is useful for the European 
institutions and the administrations 
concerned in the Member States to 
collaborate more closely in order to 
reduce the cost of developing and using 
the language tools required to carry out 
their tasks; Whereas languages that would remain 
excluded from the information society 
would run the risk of a more or less rapid 
marginalisation. 
Whereas access to information using a 
vernacular language should be enriched by 
the citizens' knowledge of other 
languages; whereas, consequently, this 
programme shall be supplemented by 
appropriate initiatives of the Community 
to expand the teaching of other 
Community languages in schools. 
Whereas the Community should support 
efforts to set up an infrastructure 
encouraging the creation and exploitation 
of the language resources required to 
improve language services and tools and 
give a boost to R&D work; 
Whereas the Community should also 
mobilize the language industries and help 
create an environment which is conducive 
to their expansion; 
Whereas the information and 
communications technology industries 
should be encouraged to draw up 
standards which take account of linguistic 
diversity and incorporate them in their 
products and applications; 
Whereas it is useful for the Community 
institutions and the administrations 
concerned in the Member States to 
collaborate more closely in order to 
reduce the cost of developing and using 
the language tools required making full 
use of the facilities of this programme and 
the Community's IDA programme of 
information exchange between 
administrations. 
Whereas the actions to be carried out in 
implementing this programme should be 
coordinated closely with initiatives 
implemented under other Community 
programmes with a view to setting up a 
multilingual information society; Whereas the actions to be carried out in 
implementing this programme should be 
coordinated closely and in a structured 
fashion with all Community initiatives 
implemented under other programmes 
with a view to setting up a multilingual 
information society. 
\L 
Whereas mutual benefits can be obtained 
by involving international organisations 
and legal entities from third countries in 
the implementation of all or part of the 
programme, while respecting the general 
policies of the Community towards these 
organisations, Whereas mutual benefits can be obtained 
by involving international organizations 
and legal entities from non-member 
countries in the implementation of all or 
part of the programme, while respecting 
the general policies of the Community 
towards these organizations, 
Has adopted this decision Has adopted this decision 
»3 
Article 1 Article 1 
A Community programme which aims to: A Community programme which aims to: 
(a) encourage the use of 
technologies, tools and methods which 
reduce the cost of transferring information 
between languages and the development 
of multilingual services, 
(b) stimulate the expansion of 
the languages industries, 
(c) promote the development 
of multilingual services, 
(d) promote the linguistic 
diversity of the European Union in the 
global information society, 
is adopted for the period running from the 
date upon which this Decision takes effect 
until 31 December 1998. (a) encourage the use of 
technologies, tools and methods which 
reduce the cost of transferring information 
between languages and the development 
of multilingual services, 
(b) stimulate the expansion of 
the languages industries, 
(c) promote the development 
of multilingual services, 
(d) promote the linguistic 
diversity of the Community in the global 
information society, 
is adopted for the period running from the 
date upon which this Decision takes effect 
until 31 December 1998. 
Article 2 Article 2 
The following actions shall be undertaken 
under the responsibility of the 
Commission and in accordance with the 
action lines contained in Annex I and the 
procedures for implementing the 
programme set out in Annex II: 
support for attempts to construct an 
infrastructure for European language 
resources and encouragement for those 
involved, The following actions shall be undertaken 
under the responsibility of the 
Commission and in accordance with the 
action lines set out in Annex I and the 
procedures for implementing the 
programme set out in Annex II: 
(a) support for attempts to construct 
an infrastructure for Community language 
resources and encouragement for those 
involved, 
the mobilisation and expansion of the 
language industries by encouraging the 
use of modern language technologies and 
tools and their incorporation into 
computer applications, 
promotion of the use of advanced 
language tools in the European public 
sector. (b) the mobilization and expansion of 
language industries by encouraging the 
use of modern language technologies and 
tools and their incorporation into 
computer applications, 
(c) promotion of the use of advanced 
language tools in the Community and 
Member States public sector. 
"V 
None of these actions should duplicate the 
work being carried out in these fields 
under Community or national 
programmes. 
Article 3 None of these actions should duplicate the 
work being carried out in these fields 
under Community or national 
programmes. 
Article 3 
1. The budgetary authority shall 
determine the appropriations for each 
financial year, subject to the availability of 
resources within the context of the 
financial outlook. 
2. The Community's financial 
contribution to the shared-cost projects 
shall, as a general rule, be 50%. 
Article 4 
1. The Commission shall be responsible 
for the implementation of the programme. 
2. The Commission shall be assisted by 
a comittee of an advisory nature 
composed of representatives of the 
Member States and chaired by the 
representative of the Commission. 
3. 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 request that its 
position 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. 1. The budgetary authority shall 
determine the appropriations for each 
financial year, subject to their utilization in 
the previous financial year and the 
availability of resources within the context 
of the financial outlook. 
2. The Community's financial 
contribution to the shared-cost projects 
shall, as a general rule, be 50%. 
Article 4 
1. The Commission shall be 
responsible for the implementation of the 
programme and its coordination with 
other Community programmes and actions 
underway.. 
2. The Commission shall be assisted 
by a committee of an advisory nature 
composed of representatives of the 
Member States and chaired by the 
representative of the Commission. 
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 request that 
its position 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. 
lb 
Article 5 Article 5 
The procedure laid down in Article 4 (3) 
shall apply to: 
(a) the work programme for carrying 
out the action lines set out in Annex I, 
(b) the content of the calls for proposals, 
(c) the selection of the actions proposed 
for Community financing and the 
estimated amount of this financing for 
each action, where this amount is equal to 
or exceeds ECU 0.5 million, 
(d) the procedures for evaluating the 
results of the programme, 
(e) adaptation of the procedures for 
carrying out the programme laid down in 
Annex II, 
(f) the decision to allow the 
participation of legal entities from third 
countries. The procedure laid down in Article 4(2) 
shall apply to: 
(a) the work programme for carrying 
out the action lines set out in Annex I, 
(b) the content of the calls for 
proposals, 
(c) the selection of the actions 
proposed for Community financing and 
the estimated amount of this financing for 
each action, where this amount is equal to 
or exceeds ECU 1 million, 
(d) the procedures for evaluating the 
results of the programme, 
(e) adaptation of the procedures for 
carrying out the programme laid down in 
Annex II, 
(f) the decision to allow the 
participation of international organizations 
and legal entities from non-member 
countries. 
Article 6 Article 6 
Upon completion of the programme, the 
Commission shall present to the European 
Parliament, the Council and the Economic 
and Social Committee an evaluation 
report on the results obtained through 
implementing the actions referred to in 
Article 2. 
Article 7 Within 2 years after the start and upon 
completion of the programme, the 
Commission shall present to the European 
Parliament, the Council, the Economic 
and Social Committee and the Committee 
of the Regions, an evaluation report on 
the results obtained through implementing 
the actions referred by to in Article 2, 
based upon an analysis by independent 
experts. 
The evaluation reports will also contain a 
detailed appraisal of the effective presence 
of European Union languages in the 
principal information netwoks used in the 
Community. 
Article 7 
This Decision is addressed to the Member 
States. This Decision is addressed to the Member 
States. 
ANNEX I, Action lines ANNEX I, Action lines 
1. Action Line 1: Supporting the 
construction of an infrastructure for 
European language resources 
Language resources such as dictionaries, 
terminological databanks, grammar books, 
collections of texts and voice recordings 
are an essential raw material for linguistic 
research, the development of language-
processing tools integrated into data 
processing systems and for improving 
translation services. Considerable amounts 
of money have already been invested by 
the Member States, the Commission and 
some private companies on producing 
language resources of varying size and 
complexity. The full utilisation of these 
resources is currently being hampered by 
the fact that they are mainly monolingual 
and their basic specifications sometimes 
differ, thus limiting their wider use. In 
addition, they are often difficult to locate. 
The aim of this action line is to support 
efforts to construct a European 
infrastructure for multilingual language 
resources. 
1.1 The Commission will lend its support 
for the starting up of the activities of the 
European language resources association 
(ELRA), whose aims are to: 
- compile an inventory of the 
language resources available in the 
Community, 
- introduce mechanisms to ensure 
that they are disseminated throughout the 
Community, 1. Action Line 1: Supporting the 
construction of an infrastructure for 
European language resources 
Language resources such as dictionaries, 
terminological databanks, grammar books, 
collections of texts and voice recordings 
are an essential raw material for linguistic 
research, the development of language-
processing tools integrated into data 
processing systems and for improving 
translation services. Considerable amounts 
of money have already been invested by 
the Member States, the Commission and 
some private companies on producing 
language resources of varying size and 
complexity. The full utilization of these 
resources is currently being hampered by 
the fact that they are mainly monolingual 
and their basic specifications sometimes 
differ, thus limiting their wider use. In 
addition, they are often difficult to locate. 
The aim of this action line is to support 
efforts to construct a European 
infrastructure for multilingual language 
resources. Most of the enterprises 
operating in this sector are SMEs, which 
are often innovative and efficient, but 
whose financial means are insufficient in 
view of the level of investments required. 
1.1 The Commission will lend its support 
for the starting up of the activities of the 
European language resources association 
(ELRA), whose aims are to: 
- compile an inventory of the 
language resources available in the 
Community, 
- introduce mechanisms to ensure 
that they are disseminated throughout the 
Community, 
i> 
- promote the application of 
common standards to ensure their 
compatibility and enable quality 
certification. - to promote and safeguard high 
standards and high quality of the language 
resources available in the Community. 
This support will also concern the 
exploitation of the linguistic know-how of 
the Community operators on the global 
market 
1.2 The work in the field of terminology 
covers a vast range of activities with 
important implications for trade, science, 
the cultural sector and technology and the 
implementation of Community decisions, 
directives and regulations. This work is 
being undertaken by a very wide range of 
public and private operators who often 
lack the means to coordinate their actions 
with those of their counterparts in other 
Member States. 1.2 The work in the field of terminology 
covers a vast range of activities with 
important implications for trade, science, 
the cultural sector and technology and the 
implementation of Community decisions, 
directives and regulations. This work is 
being undertaken by a very wide range of 
public and private operators who often 
lack the means to coordinate their actions 
with those of their counterparts in other 
Member States. 
The Commission will encourage the 
launch of concerted actions between 
interested bodies in the different Member 
States in areas which have priority in 
attaining the objectives of Community 
policies. To this end, it will, where 
necessary, make financial contributions to 
expenditure involved in the introduction 
of concerted European action among the 
bodies concerned, particularly addressing 
standards, dissemination of information 
and networking. The Commission will encourage the 
launch of concerted actions between 
interested bodies in the different Member 
States in areas which have priority in 
attaining the objectives of Community 
policies. To this end, it will, where 
necessary, make financial contributions to 
expenditure involved in the introduction 
of concerted European action among the 
bodies concerned, particularly addressing 
standards, dissemination of information 
and networking. 
The Commission will investigate with the 
Member States the feasibility of 
encouraging developments for databases 
of languages with limited economic 
potential. 
i%-
1.3 The availability of lexicographical 
databanks and voice recordings which are 
suited to the development of data 
processing applications and cover all the 
Community languages is essential in order 
for a European language industry to 
emerge. Most of the resources currently 
available in Europe are monolingual and 
mutually incompatible, which makes them 
impossible to use for the production of 
multilingual tools. In this field too, the 
Commission will encourage the launch of 
concerted actions between public and 
private sector operators in the different 
Member States with the aim of developing 
compatible vocal and lexicographical 
resources which conform to generally-
accepted standards. 1.3 The availability of lexicographical 
databanks and voice recordings which are 
suited to the development of data 
processing applications and cover all the 
Community languages is essential in order 
for a European language industry to 
emerge. Most of the resources currently 
available in Europe are monolingual and 
mutually incompatible, which makes them 
impossible to use for the production of 
multilingual tools. In this field too, the 
Commission will encourage the launch of 
concerted actions between public and 
private sector operators in the different 
Member States with the aim of developing 
compatible vocal and lexicographical 
resources which conform to generally-
accepted standards. 
Standards will be those recognised in 
accordance with Community policy. 
1.4 The Commission will ensure that the 
concerted actions receiving its support 
have appropriate links with international 
work in this field. 1.4 The Commission will ensure that the 
concerted actions receiving its support 
have appropriate links with international 
work in this field. 
«*\ 
2. Action Line 2: Mobilising and 
expanding the language industries 
It is the private sector's role to produce 
and market modern tools facilitating the 
development of multilingual data 
processing applications and information 
transfer between languages. Europe has a 
solid scientific and technological base in 
this field which has been strengthened by 
Community research and development 
programmes, in particular the programmes 
relating to information and 
communications technologies and 
telematic systems of general interest. 
However, the European market lags 
behind when it comes to exploiting the 
advances made by research in the area of 
language engineering. A concentrated 
effort needs to be made to speed up the 
process of getting new language 
processing technology onto the market, 
particularly as part of the actions for 
disseminating and exploiting the results of 
research carried out under the framework 
programme and the specific programmes. 
All the action lines proposed in the 
present programme seek to create an 
environment which is conducive to the 
expansion of the language industries such 
as language engineering and translation 
industries. 2. Action Line 2: Mobilizing and 
expanding the language industries 
It is the private sector's role to produce 
and market modern tools facilitating the 
development of multilingual data 
processing applications and information 
transfer between languages. Europe has a 
solid scientific and technological base in 
this field which has been strengthened by 
Community research and development 
programmes, in particular the programmes 
relating to information and 
communications technologies and 
telematic systems of general interest. 
However, the European market lags 
behind when it comes to exploiting the 
advances made by research in the area of 
language engineering. A concentrated 
effort needs to be made to speed up the 
process of getting new language 
processing technology onto the market, 
particularly as part of the actions for 
disseminating and exploiting the results of 
research carried out under the framework 
programme and the specific programmes. 
All the action lines proposed in the 
present programme seek to create an 
environment which is conducive to the 
expansion of the language industries such 
as language engineering and translation 
industries. 
The aim of this action line is to spur the 
language industries into action by 
stimulating technology transfer and 
demand through a limited number of 
shared-cost demonstration projects which 
could act as a catalyst in certain key 
sectors. The aim of this action line is to spur the 
language industries into action by 
stimulating technology transfer and 
demand through a limited number of 
shared-cost demonstration projects which 
could act as a catalyst in certain key 
sectors. 
Xo 
2.1 A number of industries has 
experimented with controlled language to 
facilitate drafting of technical documents 
and user support information. This 
approach improves general document 
management and allows effective use of 
machine-translation. A limited number of 
shared cost projects will demonstrate the 
cost-effectiveness of integrating controlled 
language, authoring and translation tools, 
in operational document management 
systems for different industrial and 
business environments. 2.1 A number of industries has 
experimented with controlled language to 
facilitate drafting of technical documents 
and user support information. This 
approach improves general document 
management and allows effective use of 
machine-translation. A limited number of 
shared cost projects will demonstrate the 
cost-effectiveness of integrating controlled 
language, authoring and translation tools, 
in operational document management 
systems for different industrial and 
business environments. 
2.2 Localization of multimedia software, 
including translation of the spoken and 
written word, is becoming increasingly in 
demand in the Information Society, to 
stimulate professionalism andto improve 
competitiveness of the localisation and the 
multimedia industries, a call will be issued 
to launch a small number of shared cost 
projects, demonstrating the integration of 
localisation methodology and tools, 
training of localisation staff and 
developing best practice guidelines of 
particular importance for SME's. 
2.3 The Commission will promote the use 
of networks by the translation and 
interpretation industries. These give 
access to advanced tools, including 
electronic dictionaries, improve logistics, 
allow integration with other functions, and 
generally improve the functioning of the 
translation market. A call for proposals 
will ask for the definition and 
implementation of European translation 
directory services, the definition of an 
open translation environment in Europe, 
and for pan-European tele-translation and 
tele-interpretation demonstrators with the 
involvement of the translation industry 
and profession. 2.2 Localization of multimedia software, 
including translation of the spoken and 
written word, is becoming increasingly in 
demand in the Information Society, to 
stimulate professionalism and to improve 
competitiveness of the localization and the 
multimedia industries, a call will be issued 
to launch a small number of shared cost 
projects, demonstrating the integration of 
localization methodology and tools, 
training of localization staff and 
developing best practice guidelines of 
particular importance for SME's. 
2.3 The Commission will promote the use 
of networks by the translation and 
interpretation industries. These give 
access to advanced tools, including 
electronic dictionaries, improve logistics, 
allow integration with other functions, and 
generally improve the functioning of the 
translation market. A call for proposals 
will ask for the definition and 
implementation of European translation 
directory services, the definition of an 
open translation environment in Europe, 
and for pan-European tele-translation and 
tele-interpretation demonstrators with the 
involvement of the translation industry 
and profession. In consultation with the 
performers concerned, including 
translation schools, the Commission shall 
examine the measures to be taken to 
stimulate modernization of this profession 
and to speed up its networking to increase 
its efficiency and bring it closer to 
potential users. 
i\ 
3. Action Line 3: Promoting the use 
of advanced language tools in the 
European public sector 
On account of their linguistic obligations, 
the European institutions, and the 
Commission in particular, have had to 
spend a substantial amount on acquiring 
and perfecting advanced tools which have 
become indispensable for the efficient 
processing of an increasing volume of 
translations and multilingual documents. 
In addition, through their daily translation 
activities they are also helping to compile 
important multilingual language resources 
in the various fields of Community 
activity. With the introduction of the 
Single Market and the removal of internal 
frontiers, there will be an increase in the 
transfer of information between 
administrations in the different Member 
States. These will be faced with an 
increasing number of situations where 
they will need advanced language tools in 
order to make communication with their 
counterparts in other Member States 
easier and cheaper. Transferring the 
experience acquired by the European 
institutions in the processing of 
rnuitilingualism to the administrations in 
the Member States and sharing the 
language resources which each produces 
can help achieve economies of scale and 
reduce the cost of multilingual 
communication. 3. Action Line 3: Promoting the use 
of advanced language tools in the 
European public sector 
On account of their linguistic obligations, 
the European institutions, and the 
Commission in particular, have had to 
spend a substantial amount on acquiring 
and perfecting advanced tools which have 
become indispensable for the efficient 
processing of an increasing volume of 
translations and multilingual documents. 
In addition, through their daily translation 
activities they are also helping to compile 
important multilingual language resources 
in the various fields of Community 
activity. With the introduction of the 
Single Market and the removal of internal 
frontiers, there will be an increase in the 
transfer of information between 
administrations in the different Member 
States. These will be faced with an 
increasing number of situations where 
they will need advanced language tools in 
order to make communication with their 
counterparts in other Member States 
easier and cheaper. Transferring the 
experience acquired by the European 
institutions in the processing of 
rnuitilingualism to the administrations in 
the Member States and sharing the 
language resources which each produces 
can help achieve economies of scale and 
reduce the cost of multilingual 
communication. 
The aim of this action line is to encourage 
cooperation between administrations in 
the Member States and the European 
institutions in order to reduce the cost of 
multilingual communication in the 
European public sector in particular by 
using advanced language tools . In this 
way, the European institutions can act as 
powerful catalysts for the development of 
the European language industry in the 
form of a public demand based on 
common standards or technical 
sp cific'rtions, The aim of this action line is to encourage 
cooperation between administrations in 
the Member States and the European 
institutions in order to reduce the cost of 
multilingual communication in the 
European public sector in particular by 
using advanced language tools. In this 
way, the European institutions can act as 
powerful catalysts for the development of 
the European language industry in the 
form of a public demand based on 
common standards or technical 
specifications 
3.1 The long-term goal is the provision of 
an efficient multilingual processing service 
which satisfies the requirements of the 
Institutions and the administrative 
services concerned in the Member States. 
This will favour the establishment of an 
infrastructure enabling each party to use 
the different linguistic tools available in 
the Community institutions and the 
different administrations without any loss 
of their current functions, whilst 
encouraging convergence in future 
dsvelopments. Calls for tender will be 
issued for the development of tools and 
systems which help reduce translation 
time by making it easier to locate and re­
use texts or sections of documents which 
have already been translated, as well as on 
access to terminological databanks. 
Particular attention will also be devoted 
to tools and applications which make the 
task of interpreting easier. 3.1 The long-term goal is the provision of 
an efficient multilingual processing service 
which satisfies the requirements of the 
Institutions and the administrative services 
concerned in the Member States. This 
will favour the establishment of an 
infrastructure enabling each party to use 
the different linguistic tools available in 
the Community institutions and the 
different administrations without any loss 
of their current functions, whilst 
encouraging convergence in future 
developments. Calls for tender will be 
issued for the development of tools and 
systems which help reduce translation 
time by making it easier to locate and re­
use texts or sections of documents which 
have already been translated, as well as on 
access to terminological databanks. 
Particular attention will also be devoted to 
tools and applications which make the 
task of interpreting easier. 
3.2 Work will continue on shared-cost 
cooperation projects conducted with 
certain Member States in order to 
improve terminological tools and existing 
compter-assisted translation systems, and 
will be extended to include other 
interested Member States. 3.2 Work will continue on shared-cost 
cooperation projects conducted with 
certain Member States in order to improve 
terminological tools and existing compter-
assisted translation systems, and will be 
extended to include other interested 
Member States. 
3.3 A special effort will be made to bring 
the language tools for the new official 
Community languages up to the level of 
the others. 3.3 A special effort will be made to bring 
the language tools for the new official 
Community languages up to the level of 
the others. 
While taking care to avoid duplication, 
synergies shall be sought between the 
present programme and the other 
programmes relating to the information 
society, in particular the Fourth 
Framework Research and Development 
Programme, the integrated programme for 
SMEs and craft industries, and with IDA: 
"TEN-Telecom applications, INFO 2000, 
SOCRATES, LEONARDO, MEDIA and 
the proposed ARIANE programme". 
4. Accompanying measures 4. Accompanying measures 
23 
Achieving the multilingual information 
society calls for the devising of 
converging strategies on the part of the 
public authorities, associations and 
institutions working to develop language 
resources and tools, the experimental 
users and the market operators producing 
and disseminating the information services 
or providing language processing tools, 
services and systems. To help in this, the 
Commission will carry out the following 
accompanying measures: 
organising concertation and 
coordination between the principal 
operators involved in developing a 
multilingual information society, Achieving the multilingual information 
society calls for the devising of 
converging strategies on the part of the 
public authorities, associations and 
institutions working to develop language 
resources and tools, the experimental 
users and the market operators producing 
and disseminating the information services 
or providing language processing tools, 
services and systems. To help in this, the 
Commission will carry out the following 
accompanying measures: 
organizing concertation and 
coordination between the principal 
operators involved in developing a 
multilingual information society, 
assessing progress made towards 
multilingual information society, and 
identifying remaining barriers; assessing progress made towards 
multilingual information society, and 
identifying remaining barriers; 
promoting technical standards which 
meet the linguistic needs of users; promoting technical standards which 
meet the linguistic needs of users; 
launching promotional activities and 
user awareness campaigns and supporting 
the exchange of best practice; launching promotional activities and 
user awareness campaigns and supporting 
the exchange of best practice; 
exploring the possibilities for fruitful 
collaboration with third countries and 
multilingual international organisations. exploring the possibilities for fruitful 
collaboration with third countries and 
multilingual international organizations. 
ANNEX II ANNEX II 
PROCEDURES FOR 
IMPLEMENTING THE 
PROGRAMME PROCEDURES FOR 
IMPLEMENTING THE 
PROGRAMME 
1. The Commission shall implement the 1. 
programme in accordance with the 
technical specifications set out in 
Annex I. The Commission shall implement the 
programme in accordance with the 
technical specifications set out in 
Annex I. 
Where appropriate, the action lines 
in the programme shall be carried 
out by means of shared-cost 
projects, except in the case of 
developments exclusively for the 
institutions of the EU, in which case 
the rate may be up to 100%. The 
Community's financial contribution 
will not normally be more than 50% 
of the cost of the projects, this 
proportion decreasing the closer the 
project is to being marketed. 
Universities and other institutes 
which do not have cost accounting 
systems shall be reimbursed at 100% 
of their additional costs. 
The selection of shared-cost projects 
is, in principle, based on the normal 
procedure for calls for proposals 
published in the Official Journal of 
the European Communities. The 
objectives shall be set out in work 
plans compiled in close cooperation 
with the market operators and the 
committee referred to in Article 4 of 
the Decision. In principle, the action lines in the 
programme shall be implemented by 
means of shared-cost projects, 
except in the case of developments 
exclusively for the institutions of the 
EU, in which case the rate may be up 
to 100%. The Community's financial 
contribution to shared cost projects 
will not be more than 50% of the 
cost of the projects, this proportion 
decreasing the closer the project is to 
the market. Universities, institutes 
and other non-profit making research 
centres which do not have cost 
accounting systems shall be 
reimbursed at 100% of their 
additional costs. 
The selection of shared-cost projects 
is, in principle, based on the normal 
procedure for calls for proposals 
published in the Official Journal of 
the European Communities. The 
objectives shall be set out in work 
plans compiled in close cooperation 
with the market operators and the 
committee referred to in Article 4 of 
the Decision. 
In exceptional cases, having received 4. 
the opinion of the committee 
referred to in- Article 4, the 
Commission may consider proposals 
for projects which have not been 
requested but which might involve 
particularly promising and important 
developments for achieving the 
objectives of the programme and 
which could not be submitted under 
the normal procedure for calls for 
proposals. In exceptional cases, having received 
the opinion of the committee 
referred to in Article 4, the 
Commission may consider proposals 
for projects which have not been 
requested but which might involve 
particularly promising and important 
developments for achieving the 
objectives of the programme and 
which could not be submitted under 
the normal procedure for calls for 
proposals. 
2<T 
Support for attempts to construct an 5. 
infrastructure for European linguistic 
resources could take the form of 
concerted actions to coordinate the 
development of multilingual 
linguistic resources, particularly 
through "concertation networks". 
The Community's financial 
contribution could cover up to 
100% of the coordinating costs. 
Projects financed entirely by the 
Commission under study and service 
contracts shall be implemented 
through a call for tenders in 
accordance with the Commission's 
financial regulations. Transparency 
will be ensured by the publication 
and regular dissemination of the 
work programme to professional 
associations and other interested 
bodies. 
To implement the programme, the 
Commission shall also carry out 
activities drawn up in accordance 
with the general objectives of the 
programme and the specific aims of 
each action line. Such activities shall 
include workshops, seminars, 
conferences, studies, publications, 
awareness campaigns, training 
courses, participation in cooperative 
projects with the administrations in 
the Member States, the European 
institutions and international 
organizations, helping national 
language observatories and specific 
support for the development of 
language tools and resources for 
those Community languages most in 
need of such assistance. Support for attempts to construct an 
infrastructure for European linguistic 
resources and/or the promotion of 
the use of advances linguistic tools in 
the European public sector, could 
take the form of concerted actions to 
coordinate the development of 
multilingual linguistic resources, 
particularly through "concertation 
networks". The Community's 
financial contribution could cover up 
to 100% of the coordinating costs. 
Projects financed entirely from the 
Community budget under study and 
service contracts shall be 
implemented through a call for 
tenders by the Commission in 
accordance with the provisions of 
the Financial Regulation and the 
Regulation laying down provisions 
of the current Financial Regulation. 
Transparency will be ensured by the 
publication and dissemination of the 
work programme and the projects 
selected to professional associations 
and other interested bodies. 
To implement the programme, the 
Commission shall also carry out 
activities drawn up in accordance 
with the general objectives of the 
programme and the specific aims of 
each action line. Such activities shall 
include workshops, seminars, 
conferences, studies, publications, 
awareness campaigns, training 
courses, participation in cooperative 
projects with the administrations in 
the Member States, the European 
institutions and international 
organizations, support for national 
language observatories in 
consultation with the national 
authorities and specific support for 
the development of language tools 
and resources for those Community 
languages most in need of such 
assistance. 
All activities receiving financial 
support must, at appropriate 
occasions, show acknowledgement 
of European Union funding. 
2G 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
1. TITLE OF OPERATION 
Promotion of the multilingual information society (MLIS): muitiannual action 
programme to preserve and exploit linguistic diversity in Europe. 
2. BUDGET HEADING INVOLVED 
B5-403 
3. LEGAL BASIS 
Treaty on European Union, Article 130 (3). 
4. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 
4.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE 
The programme is based on the experience acquired by the Commission of the 
European Communities in managing research programmes in the field of language 
engineering and the development, for its own requirements, of language tools which 
facilitate translation and reduce its cost. 
This new programme has four principal objectives: 
• to stimulate the use of technologies, tools and methods which reduce the cost of 
transferring information between languages and the development of multilingual 
services, 
• to encourage the strengthening of the language industries, 
• to encourage the development of multilingual services, 
• to promote the linguistic diversity of the European Union in the global 
information society. 
The technological revolutions which are profoundly modifying the form and modes of 
human communication have an impact on the evolution of languages and their use. 
The appearance on the scene of a global information society is a challenge to 
linguistic cohesion and diversity in Europe. Economic pressures (the cost of 
rnuitilingualism) will tend to encourage the use of dominant languages through the 
networks. Those citizens who are not in a position to express themselves easily in 
those languages risk missing out on the benefits of the information society. 
However, the progress achieved in language engineering and language processing 
technologies means that there are now tools available which reduce the cost of 
translation and rnuitilingualism and make it easier to learn languages. 
The principal lines of action of the new programme are as follows: 
1\ 
• to support efforts to set up the infrastructure of European language resources and 
to encourage the operators involved, 
• to mobilise and reinforce the language industries by promoting the use of modern 
language technologies and tools and their incorporation in computer applications, 
• to promote the use of advanced language tools, in particular in the European 
public sector. 
4.2 PERIOD COVERED AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR RENEWAL 
Three years, covering the period from 1.1.1996 to 31.12.1998. 
5. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 
5.1 NCE 
5.2 DA 
5.3 Type of revenue 
Any revenue will be reemployed in accordance with Article 27 of the Financial 
Regulation of 21 December 1977, as most recently amended by Regulation 610/90 of 
13 March 1990. 
6. TYPE OF EXPENDITURE/REVENUE INVOLVED 
6.1 Provision of services 
Projects financed in whole by the Commission under study and services contracts will 
be implemented through calls for tender in accordance with the financial regulations of 
the Commission. These services will generally concern studies, the organisation of 
coordination meetings, workshops and demonstrations of language tools for the 
European institutions. They will derive, in particular, from the implementation of action 
lines 2 and 3 and the accompanying measures. Transparency will be ensured by 
publishing the work programme and communicating it to commercial associations and 
other interested bodies. 
5.2 Subsidy for joint funding with other sources in the public and private sectors 
Shared-cost projects and joint projects will normally be selected following the usual 
procedures of calls for proposals published in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities. This type of funding applies, in particular, to the activities provided for 
in the three action lines for joint development projects. The content ©f the calls for 
proposals will be drawn up in doss consultation with market operators and the 
programme committee. The principal criterion for supporting projects through im 
calls for proposals will be their potential contribution to attaining the objectives of the 
programme. The Community's financial contribution to shared-cost projects will not 
normally exceed 50%. The Community's financial involvement may of course be as 
high as 100% in the case of projects involving exclusively the institutions of the 
2£ 
7. European Union. Specific supplementary bonuses may also be granted to encourage 
the development of a European language resources infirastructure, the participation of 
SMEs and initiativss concerning those Community languages for which the advanced 
language tools are least developed. The Community's financial contribution to the 
projects involved may cover up to 100% of the coordination costs. 
FINANCIAL IMPACT 
7.1 Method of calculating total cost of operation (relationship between individual 
costs and the total cost) 
The volume of appropriations required to finance the Community contribution to 
implementing the MLIS programme takes account of the financial parameters derived 
from previous experience and activities and the nature of the actions proposed with a 
view to achieving the specific objectives set out in point 9.1. 
7.2 Itemised breakdown of costs 
Commitment by line of action (current costs in million ecus): 
I 
Supporting the construction of an 
infrastructure for European language 
resources 
Mobilising and expanding the 
1 language industries 
rPromoting the use of advanced 
| language tools in the European public 
j sector 
Accompanying measures 
TOTAL 1996 
0.5 
1.0 
2.0 
0.5 
4.0 1997 
0.5 
1.9 
2.5 
1.0 
5.0 1998 
1.0 
1.5 
2.5 
1.0 
6.0 TotaT"! 
2.0 1 
3.5 j 
7.0 I 
2,5 
1 15 j 
FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES (AND RESULTS OF MEASURES 
TAKEN) 
Overall monitoring will be exercised by a committee composed of delegates of the 
Member States. Specific monitoring criteria and procedures will be laid down at 
the start of the programme and applied periodically during the implementation 
phase of the programme. The Commission officials, if necessary assisted by 
independent experts, will verify the proper implementation of the projects and 
studies before payment, taking into account the contractual obligations and 
principles of good management. Administrative checks will be carried out by the 
Commission. Verification will be by the Court of Auditors under the terms of the 
Treaty. At the and of the programme an evaluation report will be drawn up by 
independent experts on the results obtained in implementing the lines of action. 
ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 
9.1 Specific and quantifiable objectives; target population 
Specific objectives 
t% 
Supporting the construction of an infrastructure for European language resources 
Language resources such as dictionaries, terminological databanks, grammar books, 
collections and the like are an essential raw material for linguistic research, for the 
development of operational language processing tools and the improvement of 
computer-assisted translation systems. Considerable sums have already been invested 
by the Member States, the Commission and certain private companies in an effort to 
produce language resources of varying scale and complexity. Exploitation of these 
resources is currently hampered by the fact that they are mainly monolingual, their 
basic specifications are sometimes disparate - which limits their use - and they are 
often difficult to locate. The objective of this line of action is to support the efforts 
being undertaken by producers and users, with a view to facilitating their 
identification, structuring, distribution and utilisation at Community level. 
Mobilising and expanding the language industries 
This line of action will essentially involve promoting the modern language processing 
tools in those sectors of activity to which they are particularly well-suited and in 
which they are likely to considerably reduce translation costs: product labelling, 
controlled-language drafting and computer-assisted translation of documentation and' 
user notices, adapting software to different language markets, etc. It will also aim to 
promote the use of language tools and means of communication to strengthen the 
efficiency and competitiveness of the European translation industry and interpreting 
services. 
Promoting the use of advanced language tools in the European public sector 
This line of action aims to exploit the Commission's prior investment, for its own 
requirements, in the field of machine translation and multilingual tools, and to act as a 
catalyst for the development of the market through public demand. The objective is to 
allow the other European institutions and the civil services of the interested Member 
States to use these tools and to set up cooperation projects to share the development 
costs needed to cover the Community's new working languages. 
Accompanying measures 
In addition to the measures to strengthen coordination of the suitable initiatives in the 
language field undertaken under various Community programmes, and to speed up 
their impact, the accompanying measures will involve the organisation of strategic 
coordination meetings with the principal market operators, launching studies and 
strategic surveys so as to monitor the development of the market and evaluate the 
impact of the programme, stimulating standardisation work, launching promotion 
measures and measure to increase user awareness, and encouraging cooperation and 
the exchange of best practice in public and private bodies which are taking steps to 
adapt to a multilingual society and market. These measures will also involve 
examining opportunities for advantageous cooperation with third countries and 
multilingual international organisations. 
Target population 
3a 
The target groups comprise: 
- the national language departments or institutions with strategic and executive 
responsibilities in the Member States and regions, 
- language "professionals": translators, terminologists, publishers of grammar 
books and dictionaries, teachers of languages and specialised bodies and institutes 
in the Member States, 
- creators of language resources and the specialised bodies which process them 
to give them a structure, 
- computer service companies and software publishers specialised in the production 
of language processing tools, 
- major groups of users of these tools (export-oriented industries, providers of 
information services and international communications, software publishers, 
administrations and institutions which need to communicate in several languages, 
etc.). 
9.2 Grounds for the operation 
Subsidiarity 
Language policies are the responsibility of the Member States. Nevertheless, 
promoting the development of modern language processing tools and their use is a 
field of activity where Community action is justified in order to achieve 
substantial economies of scale through promoting suitable cooperation between the 
operators involved in the various language zones. The activities under the programme 
will be commensurate with the objectives to be achieved and will involve only those 
fields likely to achieve an added value at European level. 
Choice of ways and means 
The costs will be reduced as much as possible through competition by means of calls 
for tenders and proposals. The Commission contribution to shared-cost projects will 
coordination meetings should avoid any duplication of effort and promote synergy. 
The choice of ways and means takes account of the guidelines set out in the 
Bangemann report and in the Commission action plan COM (94) 347, as well as of 
the consultations held with industry, users and the representatives of the Member 
States in preparing the programme. 
Spin-oft and multiplier effects expected 
Promoting the development of the language industries and the use of modern 
language tools has spin-off benefits of great interest to the Community: 
promotion of an industry and services which create jobs, 
reduction in the cost of translating and transferring information between 
languages (the number of pages translated in the Community in 1988 was 
estimated at 100 million), 
new outlets offered by linguistic adaptation, of products and services to local 
markets, 
strengthening of the cohesion of the Community in its linguistic diversity, 
preservation of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Community in the global 
information society. 
The Community's means of action - shared-cost projects and support for joint projects 
have a multiplier effect through the supplementary funding contributed by the 
partners taking part in these projects. Moreover, they achieve a fiirther multiplier 
effect by encouraging investment by the market operators. 
Factors of uncertainty 
The main factors of uncertainty which might affect the specific results of the 
programme concern the readiness of the private sector to invest in the development of 
modern language processing tools before the market for such products has taken off. 
9.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation 
Some of the projects will be devoted to developing indicators for monitoring the 
rnuitilingualism market in Europe, in terms of both developing the supply of products 
and the industry and demand. In the very first year of the programme, a 
methodological framework will be laid down for the systematic collection of data in 
the various fields. 
An analysis of these annually-updated indicators will allow an assessment of the 
effectiveness of the measures taken in the course of the programme. Before the end of 
the programme an evaluation report will be drawn up on the results achieved in 
implementing the lines of action. 
10. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE (PART A OF SECTION 3 OF THE 
GENERAL BUDGET) 
The expenditure is calculated per year. 
10.1 Additional staff in the Commission 
Implementation of the proposed action will require the additional allocation of 2 
officials (1 A-grade post and 1 C-grade post, cost = ECU 160 000). Effective 
mobilisation of the necessary administrative resources will depend on the 
Commission's annual decision on the allocation of resources, taking account in 
particular of the additional staff and sums approved by the budgetary authority. 
Additional requests can in no way prejudice the decision which the Commission 
will have to take on the allocation of resources. 
10.2 Amount of staff and administrative expenditure involved 
The annual amounts of administrative expenditure are as follows: 
10.2.1 National experts seconded 
A-1520 
Total expenditure: ECU 70 000 
31 
Two national officials will have to be seconded to coordinate the MLIS projects 
between the EU and the national/regional levels. 
10.2.2 Meetings of experts 
A-250 
Total expenditure: ECU 120 000 
To prepare the work programme, the Commission will consult outside experts 
and representatives of users, industry administrations and research. 
9 meetings are planned, with 1 participant per Member State (cost = 880 x 15 x 9 
= 118 800, rounded up to ECU 120 000). 
10.2.3 Meetings of the Committee 
A-2510 
Total expenditure: ECU 40 000 
The MLIS programme committee mentioned in the Council Decision will hold an 
average of 3 meetings per year, with 1 participant per Member State (cost: 880 x 
15 3 - 39 600, rounded up to ECU 40 000). 
10.2.4 Official travel 
A-130 
Total expenditure: ECU 50 000 
Total official travel costs for Commission staff and the seconded national experts 
are estimated at ECU 50 000 and will be taken from the overall amount allocated 
toDGXm. 
*>3> 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 456 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 15 16 01 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-465-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-08914-1 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
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