A4-0083/98

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community initiative for the European City of Culture event (COM(97)0549 - C4-0580/97 - 97/0290(COD))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 5a (new)

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Whereas the study which has been carried out into the results achieved by European Cities of Culture shows that the event has a positive impact in terms of media resonance, cultural and tourism development and the realization by inhabitants of the importance of their city having been chosen;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 5b (new)

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Whereas the positive effects have nonetheless not always produced results lasting beyond the duration of the project itself and whereas the attention of public decision-makers in the cities chosen should be drawn to the need to integrate the cultural project into a dynamic medium-term process;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 5c (new)

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Whereas this initiative is important both for strengthening local identity and for European integration;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 5d (new)

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Whereas this initiative may be of particular importance for medium-sized cities;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 6

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Whereas, in compliance with the principles for action laid down by Article 128, a European City of Culture is to be selected each year to organize a cultural project on a specific, European theme, possibly in association with other European cities;

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Whereas, in compliance with the principles for action laid down by Article 128, a European City of Culture is to be selected each year to organize a cultural project

designed to lend effective support to cultural creativity on a theme based on its own identity, specific characteristics, history and future, supported by its own living economic, social and cultural forces and geared to the desire to contribute to European cultural development in all its diversity;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 6a (new)

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Whereas the project could be developed in association with other European cities, since such an arrangement is likely to be beneficial; whereas the city which submits an application must, for reasons of consistency, assume responsibility for programming vis-à-vis the European authorities and the partner cities;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 8a (new)

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Whereas the importance of being designated European City of Culture should be underlined by direct financial assistance on an adequate scale from the European Union, separately from assistance that the city may secure from other sources, such as the Structural Funds;

(Amendment 8)

Article 2, first indent

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- three years before the event is due to begin, the Member States concerned shall submit to the Commission an application for the town or towns, as described in Article 3, for the year in question;

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three years before the event is due to begin, the applicant cities shall submit to the Commission their applicationsin accordance with the criteria laid down in Article 3 of this Decision;

(Amendment 9)

Article 2, second indent

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- the Commission shall form a selection panel which shall deliver its opinion on the applications, judged against the objectives and characteristics of this action. The selection panel shall be composed of seven leading independent figures of whom two shall be appointed by Parliament, two by the Council, two by the Commission and one by the Committee of the Regions. The selection panel shall present its opinion to the Commission,

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the Commission shall each year form a selection panel which shall deliver its opinion on the applications, judged against the objectives and characteristics of this action. The selection panel shall be composed of seven leading independent figures who are experts on and are from the cultural sector, of whom two shall be appointed by Parliament, two by the Council, two by the Commission and one by the Committee of the Regions. Membership of the selection panel shall be incompatible with the exercise of any public elective office. The selection panel shall elect a chairman from among its members. The selection panel shall present its opinion to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council,

(Amendment 10)

Article 2, third indent

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- on a proposal from the Commission and after the European Parliament has been consulted, the Council, acting by qualified majority, shall designate the 'European City of Culture' for the year in question.

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- on the basis of the opinion of the selection panel, the Commission shall submit a proposal to Parliament and the Council. If the Commission's proposal deviates from the opinion, the Commission shall give a thorough explanation of the reasons. On the basis of the proposal from the Commission the European Parliament and the Council, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty, shall designate the 'European City of Culture' for the year in question.

(Amendment 11)

Article 3

>Original text>

The application must present a European cultural project focusing on a specific European theme and based principally on cultural cooperation, in accordance with the objectives and measures provided for by Article 128 of the EC Treaty. The project may be organized in association with other European cities.

>Text following EP vote>

The application must present a cultural project focusing on a specific European theme and based principally on cultural cooperation, in accordance with the objectives and measures provided for by Article 128 of the EC Treaty. The project may be organized in association with other European cities

, to be chosen by the proposing city, which shall lead the project throughout.

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The application must specify how, within the scope allowed by the theme, the applicant city intends:

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The application must specify how, within the scope allowed by the theme, the applicant city intends:

>Original text>

- to highlight artistic movements and styles shared by Europeans which it has inspired or to which it has made a significant contribution;

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to highlight artistic movements and styles shared by Europeans which it has inspired or to which it has made a significant contribution;

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- to promote cultural events and works involving people active in culture from other cities in Member States of the Union and leading to lasting cultural cooperation;

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to promote events involving people active in culture from other cities in Member States of the Union and leading to lasting cultural cooperation, and to facilitate their movement within the European Union;

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- to support and develop creative work, which is an essential element in any cultural policy;

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- to ensure the mobilization and participation of large sections of the population and, as a consequence, the social impact of the action and its continuity beyond the year of the festivities;

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- to receive citizens of the Union and reach as wide an audience as possible for the various events by employing a multimedia, multilingual approach; and

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to encourage the reception of citizens of the Union and the widest possible dissemination of the various events by employing all forms of multimedia, particularly audiovisual media, by creating an Internet site and by means of a multilingual approach, in order that as wide a public as possible in the city, the Union as a whole and beyond can participate in the cultural programmes and thereby promote the initiation of lasting cultural cooperation projects;

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- to promote dialogue between European cultures and those from other parts of the world.

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to promote dialogue between European cultures and those from other parts of the world and, in that spirit, to optimize the opening up to, and understanding of, others, which are fundamental cultural values;

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- to optimize the historic heritage, urban design and the quality of urban life, which are indissociable from the cultural dimension of cities, and, in particular, to highlight the relationship between using the existing heritage and contemporary creative work.

(Amendment 12)

Article 4

>Original text>

The countries of the European Economic Area, the associated countries of central and eastern Europe, Cyprus and European third countries which have concluded cooperation agreements with the Community containing a cultural clause shall be allowed to participate in this initiative.

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The countries of the

European Union shall be allowed to participate in this initiative. The applicant cities may submit their projects in cooperation with other cities in the Union or in countries in the European Economic Area, the associated countries of central and eastern Europe, Cyprus and European third countries which have concluded cooperation agreements with the Community containing a cultural clause.

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In this case, the city which has submitted the application shall assume sole responsibility vis-à-vis the Union authorities for programming, compliance with the rules governing the granting of subsidies and all contacts resulting from its designation as 'City of Culture'.

(Amendment 13)

Article 4a (new)

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Article 4a

The Community shall implement an initiative entitled European Cultural Month. The countries of the European Economic Area, the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and European third countries which have concluded cooperation agreements with the Community containing a cultural clause shall be allowed to participate in this initiative.

(Recital 7 falls)

(Amendment 14)

Article 4b (new)

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Article 4b

Without prejudice to the decisions of the budgetary authority and with due regard for the financial perspective, a reference amount of ECU 2 million shall be provided as the direct annual contribution by the European Union to the programme of the European City of Culture.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community initiative for the European City of Culture event (COM(97)0549 - C4-0580/97 - 97/0290(COD))(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(97)0549 - 97/0290(COD) ((OJ C 362, 28.11.1997, p. 12. )),

- having regard to Articles 189b(2) and 128(5) of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C4-0580/97),

- 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 (A4-0083/98),

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

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

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

4. Points out that the Commission is required to submit to Parliament any modification it may intend to make to its proposal as amended by Parliament;

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