WRITTEN QUESTION E-0517/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) and Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Second and third CSFs for Greece: operational programmes for culture

Following the approval of the third Community support framework (2000-2006), the process of completing the drafting and approval of the new operational programmes under Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999(1) is in its final stage.

What is the appropriations total covered by the proposals submitted to the Commission for the operational programme for culture? Could a table be supplied with a breakdown of priorities, individual actions and the proposed appropriations which correspond to them?

What are the amounts for national, Community and private participation in the operational programme for culture? What method was used to draw up the priorities included in the operational programme for culture, and which bodies were involved?

What strategy was put forward and what is the (quantitative) evaluation of the effects on culture of the operational programme's development? What bodies are involved in drafting and implementing it?

What plans have been included in the operational programme on culture and which partners were involved in the relevant consultation carried out under the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999?

What was the consumption of appropriations for culture in the 2nd CSF (1994-1999), and what happened to the appropriations from the 2nd CSF which were not utilised?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2001)

The Culture operational programme (OP) falls under priority 3 Quality of life of the Greek Community support framework for the 2000-2006 programming period. Its primary aims are (a) to boost protection of and capitalisation on Greece's cultural heritage and (b) harmonious supply/demand expansion for cultural goods at regional level. This OP is complementary to those for Information society and Human resources and action under the Community Initiatives.

Priority will be given to action to help improve the tourist products offered by Greece and strengthen cultural development. Special attention will be given to all methods of directly and visibly improving the attractiveness and accessibility of archaeological sites and museums.

The draft OP analyses the present situation in the culture sector. It details a development strategy and priority aims (with quantified targets) and contains a descriptive summary of the measures, financial plan, implementing provisions and ex ante evaluation.

For the entire period 2000-2006 about 605 million will be available:

>TABLE>

The OP's structure is:

>TABLE>

The programming complement, to be drawn up by the Monitoring Committee for the programme after its adoption by the Commission, will contain the detailed financing plan and a precise list of the measures to be part-financed.

The Commission has been informed by the Greek authorities that the draft OP was drawn up by the Ministry for Culture in close cooperation with the regions, the Ministries for Economic Affairs and Labour and agencies such as the Secretariat for Equal Opportunities and drafting committee for the Information society programme. During the preparatory stage various ministerial circulars invited all potential recipients under the programme to submit proposals and observations.

The projects to be part-financed under the OP will be chosen by its managing authority using appropriate criteria. Technical maturity and correspondence to the priorities are prime considerations. Project selection can potentially spread over the whole OP period (2000-2006). Thus no project list is available at present.

The exact take-up rate of the appropriations assigned to Culture in the 1994-1999 CSF will not be known before the payment period ends on 31 December 2001. As all appropriations have been committed and the projects appear to be advancing satisfactorily the take-up rate will probably be 100 %.