COMMON POSITION (EC) No 68/98 adopted by the Council on 20 November 1998 with a view to the adoption of Decision No . . ./98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of . . . amending Decision No 2085/97/EC establishing a programme of support, including translation, in the field of books and reading (Ariane) (98/C 404/03)

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 (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (3),

Whereas Decision No 2085/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) establishes a programme of support, including translation, in the field of books and reading (the 'Ariane programme`) for the period 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1998;

Whereas the third paragraph of Article 8 of that Decision provides for any suitable measure to be taken to avoid interruption of the programme;

Whereas the Commission presented a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council on 28 May 1998 for a Decision establishing a single financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004;

Whereas, pending adoption of that proposal, there is a need to ensure the continuity of cultural action by the European Community in the areas covered by the Ariane programme,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Decision No 2085/97/EC is hereby amended as follows:

1. in Article 1, '31 December 1998` shall be replaced by '31 December 1999`;

2. in Article 6, 'ECU 7 million` shall be replaced by 'EUR 11,1 million`.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on 1 January 1999.

Done at . . .

For the European Parliament

The President

For the Council

The President

(1) OJ C 319, 16.10.1998, p. 13.

(2) Opinion of the European Parliament of 9 October 1998 (OJ C 328, 26.10.1998, p. 237), Council common position of 20 November 1998 and Decision of the European Parliament of . . . (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(3) OJ L 291, 24.10.1997, p. 26.

STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S REASONS

I. INTRODUCTION

1. On 25 September 1998, the Commission submitted to the Council a proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council amending Decision No 2085/97/EC establishing a programme of support, including translation, in the field of books and reading (Ariane programme).

2. The European Parliament delivered its opinion on 9 October 1998.

3. The Commission submitted an amended proposal on 29 October 1998.

4. The Committee of the Regions delivered its opinion on 19 November 1998.

5. The Council adopted its common position in accordance with Article 189b of the Treaty on 20 November 1998.

II. PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL

The purpose of the proposal is to ensure continuity of Community activities in respect of books and reading prior to entry into force of the 'Culture 2000` programme, scheduled for 1 January 2000.

General comments

In its common position, the Council has approved the amended Commission proposal, which, in turn, incorporated the amendment proposed by the European Parliament.

III. CONCLUSIONS

The Council considers that its common position will ensure continuity of Community activities in respect of books and reading prior to entry into force of the 'Culture 2000` programme, scheduled for 1 January 2000.