A4-0144/95

Proposal for a Council Decision on a training programme for professionals in the European audiovisual programme industry (MEDIA II - Training) (1996-2000) (COM(94)0523 - C4-0171/95 - 95/0026(SYN))

The proposal was approved subject to the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 13a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas there is a need to support general training measures and programmes which take into account the cultural aspects of the audiovisual sector in all its forms;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 19a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas a modus vivendi between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission as regards measures to implement acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the EC Treaty was adopted on 20 December 1994;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 19b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the present Decision lays down a financial framework for the entire duration of the programme, which amount shall constitute the principal point of reference, within the meaning of the Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995, for the Budgetary Authority during the current budgetary procedure;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 19c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, action taken by the Community should support and supplement action taken by the relevant authorities in the Member States,

(Amendment 5)

Recital 19d (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is vital to provide the means towards a better understanding of audiovisual language, in particular by young people, and encourage the forging of strong links between specialist audiovisual centres and schools of all kinds and at all levels;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 20a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the rules, programmes and investment incentives should be coordinated with institutions such as the Council of Europe and UNESCO; whereas special consideration should be given to the interests of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 20b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, alongside the concluding report on MEDIA I, the Commission should present an assessment of its success, including a review of the structural and financial development of the audiovisual industry;

(Amendment 8)

Article 1

>Original text>

A training programme (hereinafter referred to as 'the programme') is hereby established to run for five years from 1 January 1996, with the aim of supplementing the action taken by Member States and thereby providing professionals in the European audiovisual industry with the skills they need, particularly as regards economic and commercial management and the use of new technologies, to exploit the European dimension of the market to the full.

>Text following EP vote>

A professional training programme (hereinafter referred to as 'the programme') is hereby established to run for five years from 1 January 1996 until 31 December 2000, with the aim of supporting and supplementing the action taken by Member States, while respecting to the full the responsibility which the latter bear for the content and organization of professional training and the cultural diversity of countries and regions, and thereby providing professionals in the European audiovisual industry with the skills they need, particularly as regards production-related economic and commercial management, to exploit the European dimension of the market and the use of new technologies to the full.

(Amendment 9)

Article 2, introduction and (1)

>Original text>

The aims of the Programme are:

>Text following EP vote>

In order to achieve the aims set out below, particular attention must be paid to the specific needs of the SMUs and countries with a low production capacity and/or a small linguistic and geographical area:

>Original text>

1. to meet the needs of the industry and bolster its competitiveness by contributing to the development of initial and continuous training of audiovisual professionals on the know-how and skills they need in order to take account of the European market in developing businesses and projects, in particular in the field of:

>Text following EP vote>

1. to meet the needs of the industry and bolster its competitiveness by improving the initial and particularly, the continuing professional training of audiovisual professionals in the know-how and skills they need in order to take account of the European market and other markets, in view of its transnational dimension, in developing businesses and projects designed to bring about the convergence of business practices, in particular in the field of:

>Original text>

- economic and commercial management, including legal aspects;

>Text following EP vote>

- economic and commercial management, including legal aspects;

>Original text>

- utilization and development of new technologies for the production of programmes with high value added;

>Text following EP vote>

- utilization and development of new multimedia, cinema and television technologies for the production of programmes with high value added, supplementing basic training in the audiovisual professions;

>Text following EP vote>

- writing of screenplays and exchanges of information and experience in the areas of linear and interactive narration.

>Text following EP vote>

Participation in schemes run by those bodies implementing the measures laid down in Article 3 shall be open to all European audiovisual professionals, although due regard may be had to Union policies on the development of SMEs, regional policy, and the encouragement of countries and areas of low audiovisual production capacity or restricted language area.

(Amendment 10)

Article 2(2)

>Original text>

2. to encourage cooperation and exchange of know-how between the parties involved in training, namely training establishments, the industry and businesses.

>Text following EP vote>

2. to encourage cooperation and exchange of know-how by establishing networks between the parties involved in training, namely training establishments, the industry and businesses, and by developing teacher training, taking into account those aspects likely to encourage a better understanding of audiovisual language and stimulate creativity and taking into account appropriate links with all levels of the education system.

>Text following EP vote>

These networks must give priority to exchanges of persons in order to improve knowledge of the market and firms working in the cinematographic industry in Europe.

(Amendment 11)

Article 2(2a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

2a. to ensure that together with the initiatives taken by the audiovisual industry, a skill base adequate to the industry's needs and offering reasonable opportunity to those wishing to enrol on training courses is established in each Member State.

(Amendment 12)

Article 2(2b) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

2b. to help create the conditions needed to set up a European centre for training in the audiovisual arts and professions, taking other existing bodies as the model.

(Amendment 13)

Article 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 3a

The following may take part in this programme: Cyprus and Malta, and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (with the aid of funding under the PHARE and TACIS programmes).

(Amendment 14)

Article 4

>Original text>

As a rule, recipients of Community support working on implementation of the measures laid down in Article 3 must provide a proportion of the funding. Community funding shall not exceed 75% of the cost of operations.

>Text following EP vote>

As a rule, recipients of Community support working on implementation of the measures laid down in the annex must provide a substantial proportion of the funding (at least 50%). Exceptions to this principle may be considered in order to encourage cooperation and exchanges of know-how between the partners involved in training. Community funding shall be determined in accordance with the costs and nature of each of the planned measures. The ceilings shall be laid down in the annex.

>Text following EP vote>

The budgetary authority shall determine the annual appropriations, taking into account the principles of sound financial management referred to in Article 2 of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

(Amendment 29)

Article 5

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall be responsible for implementation of the Programme.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission shall implement and monitor the programme being conducted in a decentralized form.

>Original text>

The Commission shall also be assisted by the Advisory Committee set up by Council decision 95/../EC of .. 1995 on a programme to promote the development and distribution of European audiovisual works (MEDIA II - Development and Distribution) (1996-2000).

>Text following EP vote>

1a. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature composed of the representatives of the Member States representing their cultural diversity and of representatives of the profession and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

>Text following EP vote>

In accordance with the provisions laid down in the modus vivendi of 20 December 1994 and the associated procedures, 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.

>Text following EP vote>

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.The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each member of the Committee shall have the right to ask for his position to be recorded in the minutes.

>Original text>

2. The draft measures taken by the Commission and the procedure for consulting the Committee on that draft shall be the same as those laid down in Article 6(2) and (3) of the Decision referred to in paragraph 1.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The draft proposals for measures to be taken by the Commission, as referred to in paragraph 2, shall principally cover the following:

- the arrangements for monitoring compliance with basic financial rules;

- arrangements for implementation of the operations set out in the Annex;

- arrangements for monitoring and evaluating the operations.

(Oral amendment)

Article 5a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 5a

>Text following EP vote>

During the setting-up stage of the programme, the Commission shall ensure that the most effective use is made of the experience acquired with the 1990-95 MEDIA programme.

>Text following EP vote>

When the public and transparent procedures for implementing the programme are opened, the participation of all projects meeting the aims set forth in the MEDIA II programme in the selection will be ensured.

(Amendment 17)

Article 6

>Text following EP vote>

Prior to the commencement of the Programme, the Commission shall notify the European Parliament of the projects selected with a view to its execution.

>Original text>

Within the six months following the first three years of the Programme's implementation, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee an evaluation report on the results achieved, with proposals if appropriate.

>Text following EP vote>

Following the first three years of the Programme's implementation, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee an evaluation report on the results achieved, with proposals if appropriate.

>Original text>

When the Programme has run its full term, the Commission shall submit a report on the implementation and results of the Programme to the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee.

>Text following EP vote>

When the Programme has run its full term, the Commission shall submit a report on the implementation and results of the Programme to the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee.

>Text following EP vote>

This report shall in particular show the added value created on the basis of the financial support provided by the Community and the impact on the creation of jobs.

(Amendment 18)

Annex (1), second paragraph

>Text following EP vote>

It will foster the participation of the small countries or regions with less widely spoken languages, where audiovisual production capacity is low.

>Original text>

The operations will cover both initial and continuing training.

>Text following EP vote>

The operations will cover both initial and particularly continuing training.

(Amendment 19)

Annex (1.-1)(new) and (1.1)

>Text following EP vote>

1. -1. Training in production, direction and writing

This training should pave the way for exchanges of know-how and experience between audiovisual industry professionals (producers, directors and screenplay writers).

>Original text>

1.1. Training on economic and commercial management

>Text following EP vote>

1.1. Training in economic and commercial management

>Original text>

This aims to develop the ability of people in the industry to conceptualize and exploit the European dimension in development, production, distribution and broadcasting of audiovisual programmes.

>Text following EP vote>

This aims to develop the ability of people in the industry to conceptualize and exploit the European dimension in development, production, distribution and broadcasting of audiovisual programmes.

>Original text>

The operations will cover the following:

>Text following EP vote>

The operations will cover the following:

>Original text>

- promoting the definition and updating of training modules on management to supplement national and regional initiatives by giving them a European angle (initial and continuing training);

>Text following EP vote>

- promoting the definition and updating of training modules on management to supplement national and regional initiatives by giving them a European angle (initial and continuing training);

>Original text>

- encouraging incorporation of the modules into existing syllabuses;

>Text following EP vote>

- encouraging incorporation of the modules into existing syllabuses;

>Original text>

- networking of training programmes; facilitating exchanges of teachers and students/professionals by providing grants and organizing work- experience placements in companies in other Member States and contributing to teacher training.

>Text following EP vote>

- networking of training programmes; facilitating exchanges of teachers and students/professionals by providing grants and organizing work- experience placements in companies in other Member States and contributing to teacher training, and distance teaching, by encouraging exchanges and partnerships involving countries and regions with a low audiovisual production capacity and/or with less widely spoken languages and a small geographical area.

(Amendment 20)

Annex (1.2), second paragraph

>Original text>

The operations will cover the following:

>Text following EP vote>

The operations will cover the following:

>Original text>

- promoting the definition and updating of training modules on new audiovisual technologies, to complement national and regional operations;

>Text following EP vote>

- promoting the design and updating and/or harmonization of training modules on new audiovisual technologies (to complement Member States' measures);

>Original text>

- encouraging incorporation of the modules into existing syllabuses;

>Text following EP vote>

- encouraging incorporation of the modules into existing syllabuses;

>Original text>

- networking of training programmes; facilitating exchanges of teachers and students/professionals by providing grants and organizing work-experience placements in companies in other Member States and contributing to teacher training (initial and continuing training).

>Text following EP vote>

- networking of training programmes; facilitating exchanges of teachers and students/professionals by providing grants and study loans and organizing work-experience placements in companies in other Member States and contributing to teacher training (initial and continuing training), in particular distance teaching, by encouraging exchanges and partnerships involving countries and regions with a low audiovisual production capacity and/or with less widely spoken languages and a small geographical area.

(Amendment 21)

Annex (1.2a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

1. 2a. Training in production, direction and writing

This training should take into account the different narrative modes and structures used in the various national cinema traditions; it should improve knowledge of the history of national cinema traditions and image semiology and facilitate exchanges of know-how between audiovisual industry professionals (producers, directors, screenplay writers, cameramen, editors, etc.).

(Amendment 22)

Annex (1.2b) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

1. 2b. Training in a European cultural perspective

This training aims to develop the ability of professionals to understand the European cultural dimension to audiovisual works in order to develop their ability to address a European, rather than simply a national, audience.

(Amendment 23)

Annex (1.2c) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

1. 2c. Continuing training via practical participation in production projects

>Text following EP vote>

Professionals should be given the means to facilitate entry into the European audiovisual industry for graduates of professional training institutes.

>Text following EP vote>

The operations will cover the following:

>Text following EP vote>

- promoting programmes and training institutes in which students cooperate with European audiovisual firms;

>Text following EP vote>

- promoting the networking of training measures and the mobility of graduates of audiovisual training institutes by carrying out practical work with firms in other Member States.

(Amendment 24)

Annex (2.1)

>Original text>

In implementing the programme the Commission will work closely with all parties concerned, such as training centres, professional associations and businesses. The Commission will see to it that there is a good geographical spread among the professionals participating in the programme and that Europe's cultural diversity is reflected.

>Text following EP vote>

In implementing the programme the Commission will work closely with the Member States. It will also consult the parties concerned. It will see to it that there is a good geographical spread among the professionals participating in the programme, that their selection is made on the basis of equal opportunities criteria (full monitoring and evaluation procedures also) and that Europe's cultural diversity is well reflected.

>Text following EP vote>

It will foster the collaboration of the training institutions with the modules' creators as soon as they are elaborated.

>Text following EP vote>

It will facilitate the participation of trainees and professionals coming from the small countries or regions with less widely spoken languages, where audiovisual production capacity is low.

(Amendment 25)

Annex (2.3)

>Original text>

In implementing the training programme the Commission will be assisted by a contractor capable of coordinating the performance of the tasks laid down in the action plan.

>Text following EP vote>

In implementing the programme the Commission will be assisted by a contractor capable of coordinating the performance of the tasks laid down in the above-mentioned action plan.

>Original text>

The contractor will be selected by invitation to tender.

>Text following EP vote>

The contractor will be selected by invitation to tender organized in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Regulation.

>Original text>

The Commission will draw up terms and conditions for the contractor specifying how the tasks laid down in the action plan are to be implemented.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission will draw up terms and conditions for the contractor specifying how the tasks laid down in the action plan are to be implemented. These terms and conditions will be published separately in the C series of the Official Journal.

>Original text>

The contractor must be a general-interest non-profit-making body.

>Text following EP vote>

The contractor must be a general-interest non-profit-making body having its headquarters on the territory of one of the European Union Member States.

>Original text>

Selection will be based largely on the following criteria:

>Text following EP vote>

Selection will be based largely on the following criteria:

>Original text>

- professional experience in the training business, particularly economic and commercial management training and training on new technologies;

>Text following EP vote>

- professional experience in the training business, particularly economic and commercial management training and training in new technologies;

>Original text>

- contacts with the relevant parties at national, regional and European level;

>Text following EP vote>

- contacts with the relevant parties at national, regional and European level;

>Original text>

- depth of familiarity with the European audiovisual industry and the Union's policy on it;

>Text following EP vote>

- depth of familiarity with the European audiovisual industry and the Union's policy on it;

>Original text>

- experience of cross-border or European management;

>Text following EP vote>

- experience of cross-border or European management;

>Original text>

- calibre of staff and soundness of management infrastructure.

>Text following EP vote>

- calibre of staff and soundness of management infrastructure.

>Text following EP vote>

The budget allocated to the contractor shall not exceed 2% of the total funding for the programme.

Legislative resolution embodying the opinion of the European Parliament on the proposal for a Council Decision (EC) on a training programme for professionals in the European audiovisual programme industry (MEDIA II - Training) (1996-2000) (COM(94)0523 - C4-0171/95 - 95/0026(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(94)0523 - 95/0026(SYN) ((OJ C 108, 29.4.1995, p. 4.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c and Article 127 of the EC Treaty (C4-0171/95),

- 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 Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy (A4-0144/95),

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

2. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

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

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

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