Re-examined proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on a training programme for professionals in the European audiovisual programme industry (MEDIA II - Training) (1996 - 2000)
Date: 1995-12-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, audiovisual industry, audiovisual programme, competitiveness, vocational training

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  15.12 1995 
COM(95)  725 final 

95/0026  (SYN) 

Re-examined  proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

ON  A  TRAINING  PROGRAMME  FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE 
EUROPEAN  AUDIOVISUAL PROGRAMME  INDUSTRY 
(MEDIA It  -  TRAINING) 
1996-2000 

(presented  by  the  Commission  pursuant  to  Article  189 c (d) 
of  the EC  Treaty) 

" » •$ 

' ^ 'ï 

,'  *ty~2r 

-  v ;-!•*•  *-î  - • 

, \ j,  ^ 

•*  r.t, 

*ifr->;  3 :' 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

On  10  July  1995  the  Council  adopted  a  common  position  with  a  view  to  adopting  a 
Council Decision on the implementation of a training programme for  professionals in the 
European  audiovisual  programme industry (Media II - Training)  (doc.  8427/2/95 Rev.  2 
Audio  17 Pro-coop-16). 

Under  the cooperation  procedure  (Article  189c of  the EC Treaty)  this  common  position 
was forwarded  to Parliament,  which proposed  11 amendments at its plenary  sitting on 15 
November  1995. 

(a) 

The  Commission has accepted  the  following  amendments  in  full  or  in  part. 

Amendment  1  (Recital  26a)  (new).  The  coordination  of  Media  II  (training)  activities 
with those of  other  international  organizations, such as the Council  of  Europe  would  be 
desirable.  The  Commission has adopted  a more concise wording  than that  proposed  by 
Parliament.  Reference to the associated countries of central and eastern Europe is already 
made in  recital  26  and  Article  5 of  the  Council's  common  position. 

Amendment  2 
(Article  2(1),  2nd  indent).  The  explicit  reference  to  the  writing  of 
screenplays and the fact that the programme supplements basic training in the audiovisual 
professions  fills  out and complements the two priorities set out in  the common  position 
(management  and  new  technologies). 
"Audiovisual  programmes"  is  preferred  to 
"multimedia"  as  corresponding more closely  to the aims of Media  II. 

Amendment  3 (Article  2(2)).  The establishment of networks between partners  involved 
in vocational  training  and  training of  instructors  is a key  component  of the  programme 
which is set out  in the Annex to the common position.  It is therefore  logical  to  include 
a  specifc  reference  in  the  instrument.  The  Commission's wording  is more concise  than 
that proposed  by  Parliament. 

Amendment  5 (Article  3).  The 50% ceiling  on the Community  contribution  to  funding 
training activities set out in the common position would seriously weaken the innovative 
possibilities of thé programme.  The Commission accepts Parliament's amendment which 
restores  the  ceiling  to  75%  as  initially  provided  in  the  Commission  proposal.  With 
respect to  the  second  part  of  this amendment  relating to the financial  arrangements,  the 
Commission notes  Parliament's  proposal (ECU  58 million  as against  ECU 45 million  in 
the  common  position)  but  points  out  that  the  inclusion  of  a  reference  amount  in  the 
instrument  is a  unilateral  position adopted  by  the Council. 

Amendment  6  (Article  6(4),  new  second  subparagraph).  The  Commission accepts  that 
the mid-term  evaluation  report  on the programme  should  highlight  the added  value and 
social and  economic  impact derived  from  the Community  financial  support. 

A 

Amendment  10 (Annex, point 2.2. second subparagraph).  This refers to the 75% ceiling 
on funding  proposed  in Amendment  5 and accepted by  the Commission. 

The  Commission  accepts  the  spirit  of  the  following  amendments  but  considers 

(b) 
they  are already  covered  in the common  position. 

Amendment 4 (Article 2. first paragraph (2a)(new).  The Member  States' ability to draw 
on  know-how  corresponding  to  the  needs  of  the  industry  and  offering  reasonable 
opportunities to those who wish to obtain training is covered in Article  1  of the common 
position,  which,  in  accordance  with  Article  127(1)  of  the  Treaty  stipulates  that  the 
MEDIA II Programme (Training) "supports and supplements action taken by the Member 
States  in  full  recognition  of  the  responsibility  of  those  States  for  the  content  and 
organization  of vocational  training programmes." 

Amendment  7  (Annex,  point  1.1)  (new).  Exchanges  of  know-how  are  mentioned  in 
Article  22  of  the  common  position.  Training  in  writing  is  covered  in  Parliament's 
Amendment  2, which the Commission accepts. 

Amendment  8  (Annex,  point  1.2a)  (new).  Recognition  of  the  European  cultural 
dimension  and market is explicitly  referred to in Recitals  15,  16 and 17, and in the first 
paragraph of Annex  (1.1) to the common position. 

Amendment 9 (Annex, point 2.1. first subparagraph).  Recital 22 of the common position 
contains a specific reference to equal opportunities, a fundamental principle in the policies 
of the European Union. 

Amendment  11.  The  access  of  graduates  of  vocational  training  organizations  to  the 
European  audiovisual  industry  is  provided  for  in  Article  2(2)  and in  the Annex  to the 
common position,  points  1.1  second indent and  1.2 third indent . 

PARLIAMENT  AMENDMENTS  ACCEPTED  IN  FULL  OR  IN  PART  BY  THE 
COMMISSION 

Common  position 

Reexamined  proposal 
Recital 26a (new)1 
Whereas the activities to be carried  out 
under  the programme  should  be 
coordinated with  international 
organizations,  such as the Council  of 
Europe. 

Article 2(1), second  indent2 

utilization  and development  of 
new technologies  for  the 
production  of programmes  with 
high  commercial  and  artistic 
value. 

utilization  and development  of 
new technologies  for  the 
production  of  audiovisual 
programmes with high 
commercial  and artistic value, 
supplementing  basic training  in 
the  sound  and  image  professions. 

writing  of  screenplays. 

Article 2(2)3 

(2) 

(2) 

to encourage cooperation  and 
exchanges of knowhôw between 
partners involved  in training: 
training institutions, the 
professional  sector and 
businesses. 

to encourage  cooperation  and 
exchanges of know-how by 
establishing networks between 
partners involved.in training: 
training  institutions, the 
professional  sector and 
businesses, and by developing  the 
training  of  instructors. 

Article 34 

Recipients of Community support 
involved in implementing the measures 
laid down in the Annex must provide a 
significant proportion of the funding  (at 
least25%). 

Recipients of Community support 
involved in implementing the measures 
laid down in the Annçx must provide a 
significant proportion of the funding  (at 
least 50%).  In duly justified exceptional 
cases this percentage may be reduced to 
as low as 25%. 

Community funding  shall be determined 
in relation to the cost and nature of each 
measure envisaged. 

The financial reference amount for 
implementing the programme for the 
period referred to in Article  1 shall be 
ECU 45 million. 

The annual appropriations shall be 
authorized by the budgetary authority in 
accordance with the current  financial 
perspective. 

Article 6(4), second subparagraph (new)3 

The report shall in particularshow the  ? 
added value generated on the basis of 
the financial support provided by the 
Community and the social and economic 
impact 

Annex, point 2.2, second subparagraph 

2.2  Funding of up to 75% of total 
training costs will be within a 
'framework of joint funding with public 
and/or private partners. 

PARLIAMENT AMENDMENTS NOT INCLUDED 
IN THERE-EXAMINED PROPOSAL 

Amendment 4 (Article 2 (2a) (new) 

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

Amendment 5 (Article 3, 2nd, 3rd arid 4th indents) 

"Exceptions to this principle mav be considered in order to encourage cooperation and 
exchanges of know-how between the partners involved in training. 

Community  funding  shall  be  determined  in  relation  to  the  cost  and  nature  of  each 
measure envisaged. The ceilings shall be laid down in the Annex. 

The imdget for the implementation of the programme shall be ECU 58 million. 

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 7 (Annex, point  1.1)  (new) 

" 1.1  Training in production, direction and writing 
This training should pave the wav for exchanges of know-how and experience between 
audiovisual industry professionals (producers, directors and screenplay writersV' 

Amendment 8 (Annex, point  1.2a) (new) 

" 1.2a  Training to develop a European cultural perspective 
This training shall be aimed at developing the capacity of professionals to understand the 
European cultural dimension of audiovisual works so that thev can develop their ability 
to address a European, not merely a national, audience. 

Amendment 9 (Annex, point 2.1, first subparagraph) 

In  implementing  me  programme,  the  Commission  will  work  closely  with  the 
"2.1 
Member  States.  It  will  also  consult  the  partners  concerned.  It  will  ensure that  the 
professionals participating in the programme reflect  their balanced selection, according 
to criteria guaranteeing equal opportunities (and under detailed monitoring and evaluation 
procedures) and that their participation reflects adequately Europe's cultural diversity." 

Amendment  11 (Annex, point  1.2b)  (new) 

"1.2b.  Continuing training via practical participation in production protects. 
Professionals should be given the means to facilitate entry into the European audiovisual 
industry for  graduates of professional  training institutes. 

The operations will  cover the following: 

; 

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

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

NOTES 

1. 

Parliament  amendment  1: 
"Whereas the rules, programmes and investment incentives should be coordinated 
with  institutions  such  as  the  Council  of  Europe  and  Unesco,  and  special 
consideration  should  be  given  to  the  interests  of  the  countries  of  Central  and 
Eastern  Europe." 

2. 

Parliament  amendment  2: 

•  "- 

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

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

3. 

4. 

Parliament  amendment  3: 
"(2)  To  encourage  cooperation  and  exchange  of  knowhow  by  establishing 
networks  between  partners  involved 
in  training:  training  institutions,  the 
professional sector 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." 

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." 

Parliament  amendment  5: 
"Recipients  of  Community  support  involved  in  implementing  the  measures  laid 
down in the Annex must provide a significant  proportion  of the funding  (at least 
25%).  Exceptions  to  this  principle  may  be  considered  in  order  to  encourage 
cooperation and exchanges of knowhow between the partners involved in training. 

Community funding  shall be determined in relation to the cost and nature of each 
measure envisaged.  The  ceilings  shall  be  laid down  in the  Annex. 

The budget  for  the  implementation  of the programme  shall  be ECU 58 million. 

Thé  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." 

5. 

Parliament  amendment  6: 
"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." 

ISSN Q254-1475 

COM(95) 725 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

04  16  10 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-95-755-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-98459-7 

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg