WRITTEN QUESTION E-0812/98 by Hilde Hawlicek (PSE) to the Commission (26 March 1998)

Subject: Establishment of 'Culture desks' in the Member States

Artists often complain of problems of communication with the Commission. For example, imprecise wording in application forms gives rise to questions which the Commission, even after repeated inquiries, is unable to answer.

I have heard that the Commission is currently planning to set up 'Culture Desks' in the Member States, as information points aimed at reducing this communication deficit. I very much welcome this idea.

To enable the Culture Desks to operate successfully, Members of the European Parliament, who already make a considerable contribution to the provision of information, should also be involved. In order that we may jointly provide workers in the artistic field with as comprehensive information as possible, I should like to know:

1. How is the work of the Culture Desks conceived, what powers will they have (e.g. to preselect projects according to formal criteria), and what will be their precise duties?

2. What financial provision will be made for the Culture Desks?

3. What role are the Culture Desks intended to play during the re-orientation of EU cultural aid policy?

4. What role are the Culture Desks to play in the new Culture Programme?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (15 May 1998)

The Commission is already making great efforts to inform the public about its programmes. Furthermore, the programme application forms are accompanied by very clear instructions for applicants.

However, owing to the ever increasing number of applications and the concern expressed both by the European Parliament and the Member States to see a significant increase in information on Community cultural programmes, the Commission felt it would be productive to disseminate this information via 'culture desks' in the Member States. To this effect, it made proposals to the committees for the programmes (Kaleidoscope committee meeting of 14 February 1997) for the setting of these desks to be effected on a voluntary basis in the Member States. The Commission would cover 50% of the establishment and annual running costs of one such culture desk per Member State of up to ECU 80 000 per Member State in the case of the large States and up to ECU 30 000 in the case of the smaller States. The desks would be funded jointly under the budget entries corresponding to the Community Ariane, Kaleidoscope and Raphaël programmes.

The Community contribution is conditional on the presentation to the Commission of an action programme and draft budget by the body designated by the authorities of the Member State to assume responsibility for the culture desk.

In 1998, ten Member States and two countries of the European Free Trade Association(EFTA/European Economic Area (EEA) made use of the opportunity afforded them (Germany, Greece, France, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Iceland and Norway).

The tasks assigned to the culture desks on the strength of the commitments made towards the Commission are essentially to ensure the promotion of Community programmes and provide information for potential applicants, professionals and other interested parties (ongoing information, widest possible dissemination of information concerning the cultural programmes, technical assistance for professionals and, where appropriate, other promotional measures for the attention of the target groups).

Subject to the availability of resources, the Commission will make further provision for the establishment of these culture desks when drafting the new framework programme for culture.