A4-0307/96

Decision on the common position established by the Council with a view to the adoption of a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community action programme in the field of cultural heritage - The Raphael programme (C4-0378/96 - 95/0078(COD))

(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0378/96 - 95/0078(COD),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 287, 30.10.1995, p. 161.)) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(95)0110,

- having regard to the amended Commission proposal, COM(96)0333 ((OJ C 265, 12.9.1996, p. 4.)),

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

- having regard to Rule 72 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media (A4-0307/96),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

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

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

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

(Amendment 1)

Recital 5

>Original text>

(5) Whereas, because of its socio-economic dimension, the preservation of the cultural heritage is an element in a design for society and can contribute significantly to job creation and regional development and to improving the quality of life and the day-to-day environment of ordinary people; whereas contemporary creative work can play an important role in this respect;

>Text following EP vote>

(5) Whereas, because of its socio-economic dimension, the preservation of the cultural heritage is an element in a design for society and can contribute significantly to job creation, the promotion of tourism and regional development and to improving the quality of life and the day- to-day environment of ordinary people; whereas contemporary creative work can play an important role in this respect;

(Amendment 2)

Article 3, 2nd paragraph (c)

>Original text>

(c) to improve access to the cultural heritage in its European dimension and encourage the active participation of the general public, in particular children and young people, in the safeguarding and development of the European cultural heritage;

>Text following EP vote>

(c) to improve access to the cultural heritage in its European dimension and encourage the active participation of the general public, in particular children, young people, the under-privileged and those living in the outlying and rural areas of the Union, in the safeguarding and development of the European cultural heritage;

(Amendment 4)

Article 8

>Original text>

1. The Commission may consult the Committee on any other question concerning the implementation of the programme as well as on the measures provided for in Article 7(3).

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

>Original text>

2. 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.

>Original text>

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

>Original text>

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.

>Original text>

3. The representative of the Commission shall keep the Committee informed in good time and on a regular basis on the financial assistance granted under the programme (amount, duration, breakdown, beneficiaries).

(Amendment 5)

Article 9(1)

>Original text>

1. The financial framework for the implementation of the programme for the period referred to in Article 1 is hereby set at ECU 30 million.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The financial framework for the implementation of the programme for the period referred to in Article 1 shall be ECU 86 million.

(Amendment 6)

Article 9(3)

>Original text>

3. The financial framework mentioned in paragraph 1 will be subject to re- examination before the end of the second year, on a proposal from the Commission, in the light of the budgetary situation and the results obtained in the first phase of the programme.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 7)

Annex, Action 1, third paragraph after paragraph 2

>Original text>

Community financial assistance for a project under this action may not exceed 50% of the total cost of the project in question and, in the case of projects under paragraph 2, may not exceed ECU 150 000.

>Text following EP vote>

Community financial assistance for a project under this action may not exceed 50% of the total cost of the project in question and, in the case of projects under paragraph 2, may not exceed ECU 250 000.

(Amendment 8)

Annex, Action II, first indent, second subparagraph a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Special attention shall be paid to networks which encourage access to the cultural heritage for the most disadvantaged sections of the population.