Amended proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the adoption of a multiannual programme to promote the linguistic diversity of the Community in the information society
Date: 1996-10-02
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: action programme, cultural pluralism, information policy, information technology, multilingualism

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 02.10.1996 
COM(96)  456  final 

95/0263  (CNS) 

Amended  proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

on the adoption of a multiannual 

programme to promote the linguistic diversity of the Community in the information 
society 

(presented  by the  Commission  pursuant  to  Article  189 a (2) 
of the  EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

The Commission hereby presents a modified  proposal for a Council decision amending 
COM(95)486 - The Multilingual Information  Society (MLIS)-

The modified  proposal incorporates those amendments adopted by the European 
Parliament during its' plenary session on 21.6.96, which were accepted by the 
Commission. 

1.  Introduction 

a) Background 

The Commission adopted its' proposal on 8.11.95, and it was formally transmitted to the 
EP, the Council, the ESC and the COR on 23.11.1995. 

The Economic and Social Committee adopted a favourable opinion on 30.5.19961, the 
Committee of the Regions adopted a favourable  opinion on  13.6.19962. 
The European Parliament adopted a favourable  opinion on 21.6.19963 and proposed  56 
amendments to the Commission's proposal4 

b) Purpose of the Commission  proposal 

The purpose of the proposal is the adoption of a Council decision for a 3-year programme 
(The Multilingual Information  Society - MLIS) to promote the linguistic diversity of the 
Community in the Information  Society 

2.  EP amendments accepted  bv the Commission 

Of the 56 amendments adopted by the EP,  19 are accepted  in full,  15 are accepted 
partially or in principle, making a total of 34. 

The Commission accepted those amendments that 

- 
- 

- 

are coherent with views elaborated  in the Commission's Communication  (MLIS) 
are coherent with Community policies, improve cohesion, synergy, transparency, 
management 
improve clarity and precision 

The short evaluation of the various amendments is presented  in the annex to this 
memorandum 

^ ES  692/96 
2CDR 6/96 fin. 
3PE 250.124 
4PE 250.124 

3.  Amendments not accepted bv the Commission 

Of the 56 amendments, 22 could not be accepted. The main reasons for  non-acceptance 
are : 

proposed change of the legal base (and the various amendments associated 
with it) 
duplication or overlap of arguments 
non-compliance with subsidiarity as interpreted  by the Commission for this 
programme 
non-compliance with budget availability 

The short evaluation of the various amendments is presented  in the annex to this 
memorandum. 

4T  Conclusion, 

In accordance with Art.  189a of the EU Treaty, the Commission amends its' initial 
proposal, incorporating the accepted and partially accepted amendments. 

Annex 

Position of the Commission on the amendments presented bv the European  Parliament 

Amendment 1: 

Commission: 

To address proposal to the EP and the Council (in view of the proposed 
change of the legal base implying co-decision; see amendment 2) 
Not accepted as the change of the legal base is not accepted 

Amendment 2: 

Commission: 

Change the legal base to include Art 128 (1, 2), in addition to proposed Art 
130(3) by the Commission 
Not accepted. The principal objective is to encourage industrial actions to 
provide multilingual services. This suffices to chose one legal base (130). 
There are cultural, social aspects or spin-offs, but that should not lead to a 
double legal base. 

Amendment 3: 
Commission: 

Reference is made to an EP resolution on minority languages 
Accepted as a recital instead of a citation 

Amendment 4: 
Commission: 

Reference to be made to an EP resolution on languages and Catalan 
Not accepted; the Decision text becomes unnecessarily long and mentioning 
one specific language does not reflect the intention to treat all languages on an 
equal footing. 

Amendment 5: 
Commission: 

Reference to be made to other EP resolutions regarding the IGC 
Not accepted, citations or recitals should have a direct link with the MLIS 
proposal 

Amendment 6: 
Commission: 

Citation to take into account the opinion of the CoR 
Accepted because the CoR makes a valuable contribution and the regions 
often have special interests for languages spoken there. 

Amendment 7. 

Commission: 

Recital to make reference to the promotion of linguistic diversity as a means to 
conserve the cultural linguistic heritage with reference to Art 128. 
This amendment is conceptually linked to the proposed change of the legal 
base. The Commission proposes an alternative making reference to the 
essential content of Art 128(4). 

Amendment 8: 
Commission: 

Recital comparing the importance of cultural, social and economic aspects 
Not accepted, the amendment does not really add value to all other texts 
already referring to cultural aspects. 

Amendment 9: 

Commission: 

Recital suggesting that there should be no discrimination between people on 
the basis of language and other personal circumstances. 
Accepted, reflects arguments in the MLIS Communication. 

Amendment 10: 
Commission: 

Recital; Europeans should have access in their vernacular language. 
Accepted goal of MLIS 

Amendment 11 : 
Commission: 

Recital; languages not used in the Information Society will degrade 
Accepted, one of the Commission messages since long. 

4-

Amendment  12:  Recital, suggesting the IS will help the cultural and linguistic heritage to florish 
Commission: 

Not accepted, not because of disagreement but because the same arguments 
tend to be repeated too often, and this does not improve the transparency of 
the decision. Overlap with the Commission's 5th recital 

Amendment 13:  Recital, to add a reference to G7 meetings about the Information Society. 
Accepted, but with a change of the order of the phrases 
Commission: 

Amendment 14:  Recital ta replace the word "industry" by "language industry" 
Commission: 

The proposed narrowing does not conform to the intention to address the 
industry at large ; but "language industry" can be added in the recital as 
proposed by the Commission 

Amendment  15:  Recital meant not too refer explicitly to "industry" 
Commission: 

Partially accepted by adding the phrase "all concerned players" to "industry" 

Amendment  16:  Amendment meant to delete a Commission recital (linked to amendment 13) 
Commission: 

Not accepted for purely technical reasons 

Amendment  17:  Amendment to delete the Commission's 5th recital (linked to amendment 12) 
Commission: 

Not accepted, because amendment 12 is not accepted. 

Amendment  18:  Recital referring explicitly to non-official  languages 
Commission: 

Not accepted, because languages should not be classified but rather treated as 
equal, at least in MLIS 

Amendment  19:  Recital; in fact these are 2 amendments to one recital, referring to (1) the 
responsabilities of the EU for the protection of linguistic heritage and (2) 
improving cohesion in the EU 
Responsabilities of the EU in this matter are not so explicitly stated in the 
Treaty and are in any case subsidiary responsabilities. Improving cohesion is 
accepted 

Commission: 

Amendment 20:  Recital referring to minority languages 
Commission: 

Sympathy for the amendment, but the MLIS is not capable to ensure survival 
of minority languages. 

Amendment 21:  Recital referring to the duty of the Community to set up an infrastructure for 

Commission: 

language resources 
Partially accepted, but the wording "duty" is too strong 

Amendment 22:  Recital, referring to cultural heritage 
Commission: 

No fundamental objection to the amendment, but it is really duplicating and 
overlaping other recitals 

Amendment 23:  Recital, referring to the important role of SMEs 
Commission: 

Agrees, accepted 

Amendment 24:  Recital referring to cooperation with other programmes, IDA in particular 
Commission: 

Accepted, this conforms to Commission intentions. 

Amendment 25:  Recital suggesting some Member States to use structural funds to  finance 

national (language) developments 
Commission:  Welcomes the suggestion, which really adds value 

_ 

Amendment 26:  Recital suggesting "structured" cooperation instead of mere cooperation 
Commission: 

Agrees, accepted 

Amendment 27:  Recital, linking language learning actions to MLIS 
Commission: 

Accepts the importance and complementarity of language learning, but 
SOCRATES delà with language learning in schools. A recital in fact referring 
to SOCRATES should not appear in MLIS. 

Amendment 28:  Recital suggesting to finance cooperation with third countries from the 

Commission: 

Community (MLIS ?) budget 
Not accepted; only small sums are available too facilitate cooperation, so no 
suggestions shall be made that substantial sums are available 

Amendment 29:  Recital, suggesting to finance developments for minority languages 
Commission: 

Not accepted, this is a matter for Member States and moreover, there is no 
budget for this 

Amendment 30:  Recital introducing interim programme evaluation 
Commission: 

Sympathises with the idea, but it must be practical. Evaluation in a too early 
stage makes no sense, so the modification is for an evaluation report 2 years 
after the start 

Amendment 31 : 
Commission: 

Article 1, amendment reflects the (proposed) change of the legal base. 
Not accepted as amendment 2 is not accepted 

Amendment 32: 

Commission: 

Article 2, a small addition to letter c) of the article, by referring to 
bothCommunity and Member States. 
Accepted 

Amendment 33: 

Commission: 

Article 3, introducing the budgetary reference amount for the programme (20 
MECU); and minor changes 
Some sympathy, but cannot be accepted by the Commission because reference 
amounts should not be mentioned and the additional resources can at present 
not be found in the budget; minor change is an improvement. 

Amendment 34: 

Commission: 

Article 3 : the amendment refers to financial support for third countries and 
international organisations. 
Cannot be accepted, see also amendment 20. 

Amendment 35: 

Commission: 

Article 4, stating the Commission's responsability for coordination with other 
Community programmes 
Obvious, but useful to be mentioned explicitly 

Amendment 36: 

Commission: 

Article 4, the amendment limits the number of representatives per Member 
State in the Programme Committee 
Has sympathy with the idea to increase costftenefit,  but the restriction is too 
rigid  and not in agreement with the Comitology ruling 

Amendment 37: 

Commission: 

Article 5, sets the limit above which project proposals need voting by the 
programme Committee, to  1 MECU (EU contribution) 
Agrees, but wonders whether other Institutions will agree. 

Amendment 38: 
Commission: 

Article 6, introducing some concepts concerning programme evaluation 
Agrees with principles with some modification (see amendment 30) 

6 

Amendment 39:  Annex I,  1, introducing the important role of SMEs 
Commission: 

Agrees 

Amendment 40:  Annex I,  1, suggesting European actors should operate on the global market 
Commission: 

Agrees, but suggests a somewhat simplified phrase 

Amendment 41:  Annex 1,1 ; to promote aspects of standardisation for language resources 
Commission: 

Fully agrees 

Amendment 42:  Annex 1,1 ; proposes ELRA to report regularly to the Commission 
Commission: 

Not accepted, ELRA does not depend on the Commission and thus cannot be 
obliged by the Commission; moreover, this organisation will not be 
mentionned in the final text. 

Amendment 43:  Annex 1,1 ; proposal to investigate support for databases with limited 

Commission: 

economic potential 
Agrees to investigate (not necessarily to support eventually) 

Amendment 44:  Annex 1,1, proposal that standards implemented should be officially 

Commission: 

recognised in the Member States 
Agrees that standards should have some recognised status, but this issue is far 
too complex to refer to it in the way Parliament suggests. 

Amendment 45:  Linguistic amendment, dropped from the list of amendments 

Amendment 46:  Annex I, 2, proposal to finance lesser-used language projects in bi-lingual 

Commission: 

areas 
Does not want to commit to finance language-specific projects; the 
situation sketched is far too specific 

Amendment 47:  Annex I, 2, introduces translation schools as actors 
Commission: 

Agrees, important, liaison with LEONARDO 

Amendment 48:  Linguistic amendment, dropped out of the list of amendments 

Amendment 49:  Annex I, 3, links the interoperability of information networks of the 

Commission: 

Community Institutions with MLIS. 
Has sympathy for the idea, but cannot accept that the MLIS is used as an 
instrument to achieve that goal 

Amendment 50:  Annex I, 3, refers to pilot actions to be centred on lesser-used languages 
Commission: 

Does not agree to give the priority to certain languages, even if there is 
sympathy for the concern behind the proposal 

Amendment 51:  Annex I, 3, links support for lesser-used languages to such support for the 

Commission: 

new official Community languages 
The reason for support for the new official languages in the context of the 
multilingual systems of the Community Institutions is obvious. To link this 
with lesser-used languages is not. Again,, the Commission has sympathy with 
the idea behind and may discuss with Member States concerned how this 
problem can be tackled. 

> 

Amendment 52;  Annex I, 3 ; elaboration of synergies proposed between MLIS and other 

Commission: 

Amendment 53: 

Commission: 

Community initiatives 
Agrees 

Annex 11(2); small mainly textual changes ; elimination of the possibility to 
finance  projects up to  100% is a very limited number of cases. 
Text changes accepted ; not accepted is the reference to projects financed up 
to 100% 

Amendment 54:  Annex 11(5) ; proposal to emphasise promoting the use of advanced tools 
Commission: 

Accepted, improvement 

Amendment 55:  Annex 11(6) ; proposal to be more precise in referring to the Financial 

Commission:  Welcomes precision 

Regulation. 

Amendment 56 :  with the views of national authorities. 

Commission: 

Annex 11(7) ; insists that support for (national) language observatories is in 
accordance 
Fully agrees, welcomes precision 

Amendment 57:  Dropped, replaced by amendment 59 

Amendment 58:  Annex 11(2) introduces a new partitioning of the budget envelope (20 MECU) 

Commission: 

by action line and makes 5 MECU out of the 20 MECU to depend on the 
Financial Perspectives (supposedly in Florence). 
Cannot accept financial envelopes in this Decision (no co-decision). The 
Commission refers to it's budget allocation as contained in the Financial 
Statement that is not part of the Decision however. 

Amendment 59:  Annex H, 7, proposes that all MLIS supported actions refer in their published 

Commission: 

reports to this support and bear the EU  flag. 
Agrees with the principle, but considers the flag a bit overdone. 

8 

Amended proposal for a Council Decision on the adoption of a multiannual 
programme to promote the linguistic diversity of the Community  in the  information 
society 

Original version 

Modified  version 

The Council of the European Union, 

The Council of the European Union, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing 
the European Community, and in 
particular Article  130(3) thereof, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing 
the European Community, and in 
particular Article  130(3) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from  the 
Commission, 

Having regard to the proposal from  the 
Commission, 

Having regard to the opinion of the 
European Parliament *, 

Having regard to the opinion of the 
European Parliament ^  , 

Having regard to the opinion of the 
Economic and Social Committee^ , 

Having regard to the opinion of the 
Economic and Social Committee^ , 

Having regard to the opinion of the 
Committee of the Regions3 

Whereas the advent of the  information 
society provides industry with new 
prospects for communication  and trade on 
European and world markets which are 
marked by a rich linguistic and cultural 
diversity; 

Whereas the advent of the  information 
society provides industry and in particular 
the language industry with new prospects 
for communication  and trade on European 
and world markets which are marked  by a 
rich linguistic and cultural diversity; 

Whereas industry must work out  specific 
and adequate solutions to overcome the 
linguistic barriers if it is benefit  fully  from 
the advantages of the internal market and 
remain competitive on world markets; 

Whereas industry and all other players 
concerned  must work out specific and 
adequate solutions to overcome the 
linguistic barriers if they are to  benefit 
fully from the advantages of the internal 
market and remain competitive on world 
markets. 

OJNr.. 

OJNr.. 

OJ  Nr.. 

OJ Nr. 

3  O.J.  Nr 

°l 

Whereas the private sector in this field 
consists mainly of SMEs, which face 
considerable difficulties  in addressing 
different  language markets and must thus 
be supported, especially when considering 
their role as a source of employment. 

Whereas it is necessary to encourage the 
use of  technologies, tools and methods 
which reduce the cost of transferring 
information between languages, while also 
assuring the quality of translations, 
particularly in the case of literary 
translation, which requires a specific 
creative effort; 

Whereas it is necessary to encourage the 
use of technologies, tools and methods 
which reduce the cost of transferring 
information between languages, while also 
assuring the quality of translations, 
particularly in the case of literary 
translation, which requires a specific 
creative effort; 

Whereas the European Council in Corfu 
on 24 and 25 June 1994 stressed the 
importance of the cultural and linguistic 
aspects of the information society, and 
whereas the European Council in Cannes 
on 26 and 27 June 1995, restated the 
importance to the European Union of its 
linguistic diversity; 

Whereas the European Council meeting in 
Corfu on 24 and 25 June  1994, stressed 
the importance of the cultural and 
linguistic aspects of the information 
society, and whereas the European 
Council meeting in Cannes on 26 and 27 
June 1995, restated the importance to the 
Community of its linguistic diversity; 
whereas the G7 Conference of Ministers 
meeting in Brussels on 25 and 26 
February  1995, drew attention to the 
importance of linguistic and cultural 
diversity in the global information society; 

Whereas the emergence of the information 
society could afford the citizens of Europe 
greater access to information and offer an 
outstanding opportunity to exploit the 
cultural and linguistic wealth and diversity 
of the Community; 

Whereas the emergence of the information 
society could afford citizens greater 
access to information and offer an 
outstanding opportunity to exploit the 
cultural and linguistic wealth and diversity 
of the Community; 

10 

Whereas language policies are a matter for 
the Member States, taking account of 
Community law; whereas, however, 
promoting the development of modern 
language processing tools and their use is 
a field of activity in which Community 
action is justified in order to achieve 
substantial economies of scale by 
stimulating suitable cooperation between 
those involved in the various language 
areas; whereas the measures to be taken at 
Community level must be commensurate 
with the objectives to be attained and 
concern only those fields which are likely 
to produce an added value for Europe; 

Whereas language policies are a matter for 
the Member States, taking account of 
Community law; whereas, however, 
promoting the development of modern 
language processing tools and their use is 
a field of activity in which Community 
action is justified  in order to achieve 
substantial economies of scale by 
stimulating suitable cooperation between 
those involved in the various language 
areas insofar as this may create an added 
value for the Community or contribute to 
the social and economic cohesion of the 
Union; whereas the measures to be taken 
at Community level must be 
commensurate with the objectives to be 
attained and concern only those  fields 
which are likely to produce an added 
value for the Community; 

Whereas the Member States could 
envisage using the structural funds within 
the present regulatory framework to 
protect and develop their linguistic 
heritage within the Information  Society. 

Whereas the European Parliament 
adopted the resolution4 on measures in 
favour of minority languages and cultures 
; whereas the Council of Europe adopted 
the European Charter of regional or 
minority languages signed on 5 November 
1992. 

Whereas the Community should take into 
account the cultural and linguistic aspects 
of the Information  Society. 

Whereas efforts must be made to ensure 
tfiat all European citizens have equal 
opportunities to participate in the 
information society, irrespective of their 
social, cultural, linguistic or geographical 
situation. 

Whereas it is essential to provide citizens 
with equitable access to information, for 
the latter to be available to them in their 
European vernacular language. 

4  O.J. NrC68,  14.3.1983 

W 

Whereas languages that would  remain 
excluded from the information  society 
would run the risk of a more or less rapid 
marginalisation. 

Whereas access to information  using a 
vernacular language  should  be enriched by 
the citizens' knowledge  of other 
languages; whereas,  consequently,  this 
programme shall be supplemented by 
appropriate initiatives of the Community 
to expand the teaching of other 
Community languages in schools. 

Whereas it is in the interests of the 
Community to  support efforts  to set up an 
infrastructure  encouraging the creation 
and exploitation of the language resources 
required to improve language services and 
tools and give a boost to R&D work; 

Whereas the Community  should  support 
efforts  to set up an  infrastructure 
encouraging the creation and exploitation 
of the language resources required to 
improve language services and tools and 
give a boost to R&D work; 

Whereas the Community should also 
mobilise the language industries and help 
create an environment which is conducive 
to their expansion; 

Whereas the Community  should  also 
mobilize the language industries and help 
create an environment  which is conducive 
to their expansion; 

Whereas the information and 
communications technology  industries 
should be encouraged to draw up 
standards which take account of linguistic 
diversity and incorporate them in their 
products and applications; 

Whereas the information  and 
communications  technology  industries 
should be encouraged  to draw up 
standards which take account  of linguistic 
diversity and incorporate them in their 
products and applications; 

Whereas it is useful  for the European 
institutions and the administrations 
concerned  in the Member States to 
collaborate more closely in order to 
reduce the cost of developing and using 
the language tools required to carry out 
their tasks; 

Whereas the actions to be carried out in 
implementing this programme should be 
coordinated closely with initiatives 
implemented under other Community 
programmes with a view to setting up a 
multilingual information  society; 

Whereas it is useful  for the Community 
institutions and the  administrations 
concerned  in the Member States to 
collaborate more closely  in order to 
reduce the cost  of developing  and using 
the language tools required making full 
use of the facilities of this programme and 
the Community's IDA programme  of 
information exchange  between 
administrations. 

Whereas the actions to be carried out in 
implementing this programme should be 
coordinated  closely  and in a structured 
fashion  with all Community  initiatives 
implemented  under other  programmes 
with a view to setting up a multilingual 
information  society. 

\L 

Whereas mutual benefits can be obtained 
by involving international organisations 
and legal entities from third countries in 
the implementation of all or part of the 
programme, while respecting the general 
policies of the Community towards these 
organisations, 

Whereas mutual benefits can be obtained 
by involving international  organizations 
and legal entities from  non-member 
countries in the implementation of all or 
part of the programme, while respecting 
the general policies of the Community 
towards these organizations, 

Has adopted this decision 

Has adopted this decision 

»3 

Article 1 

Article 1 

A Community programme which aims to:  A Community programme which aims to: 

encourage the use of 

(a) 
technologies, tools and methods which 
reduce the cost of transferring information 
between languages and the development 
of multilingual services, 

encourage the use of 

(a) 
technologies, tools and methods which 
reduce the cost of transferring information 
between languages and the development 
of multilingual services, 

(b) 
the languages industries, 

stimulate the expansion of 

(b) 
the languages industries, 

stimulate the expansion of 

(c) 
of multilingual services, 

promote the development 

(c) 
of multilingual services, 

promote the development 

promote the linguistic 

(d) 
diversity of the European Union in the 
global information society, 

promote the linguistic 

(d) 
diversity of the Community in the global 
information society, 

is adopted for the period running from the 
date upon which this Decision takes effect 
until 31 December 1998. 

is adopted for the period running from the 
date upon which this Decision takes effect 
until 31 December 1998. 

Article 2 

Article 2 

The following actions shall be undertaken 
under the responsibility of the 
Commission and in accordance with the 
action lines contained in Annex I and the 
procedures for implementing the 
programme set out in Annex II: 

The following actions shall be undertaken 
under the responsibility of the 
Commission and in accordance with the 
action lines set out in Annex I and the 
procedures for implementing the 
programme set out in Annex II: 

support for attempts to construct an 

infrastructure for European language 
resources and encouragement for those 
involved, 

support for attempts to construct 

(a) 
an infrastructure for Community language 
resources and encouragement for those 
involved, 

the mobilisation and expansion of the 

language industries by encouraging the 
use of modern language technologies and 
tools and their incorporation into 
computer applications, 

the mobilization and expansion of 

(b) 
language industries by encouraging the 
use of modern language technologies and 
tools and their incorporation into 
computer applications, 

promotion of the use of advanced 
language tools in the European public 
sector. 

promotion of the use of advanced 

(c) 
language tools in the Community and 
Member States public sector. 

"V 

None of these actions should duplicate the 
work being carried out in these  fields 
under Community or national 
programmes. 

None of these actions should duplicate the 
work being carried out in these  fields 
under Community or national 
programmes. 

Article 3 

Article 3 

1.  The budgetary authority shall 
determine the appropriations for each 
financial  year, subject to the availability of 
resources within the context of the 
financial  outlook. 

1. 
The budgetary authority shall 
determine the appropriations for each 
financial year, subject to their utilization in 
the previous financial year and the 
availability of resources within the context 
of the financial  outlook. 

The Community's  financial 

2. 
contribution to the shared-cost  projects 
shall, as a general rule, be 50%. 

The Community's  financial 

2. 
contribution to the shared-cost  projects 
shall, as a general rule, be 50%. 

Article 4 

Article 4 

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

The Commission shall be 
1. 
responsible for the implementation of the 
programme and its coordination with 
other Community programmes and actions 
underway.. 

2.  The Commission shall be assisted by 
a comittee of an advisory nature 
composed of representatives of the 
Member States and chaired by the 
representative of the Commission. 

The Commission  shall be assisted 

2. 
by a committee of an advisory  nature 
composed  of representatives of the 
Member States and chaired by the 
representative of the Commission. 

3.  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. 

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. 

The opinion shall be recorded in the 
minutes; in addition, each Member State 
shall have the right to request that its 
position be recorded in the minutes. 

The opinion shall be recorded in 

the minutes; in addition, each Member 
State shall have the right to request that 
its position be recorded  in the minutes. 

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 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. 

lb 

Article 5 

Article 5 

The procedure laid down in Article 4 (3) 
shall apply to: 

The procedure laid down in Article 4(2) 
shall apply to: 

(a) 
the work programme for carrying 
out the action lines set out in Annex I, 

the work programme for  carrying 

(a) 
out the action lines set out in Annex I, 

(b) 

the content of the calls for proposals, 

the content of the calls for 

(b) 
proposals, 

the selection of the actions proposed 

(c) 
for Community financing and the 
estimated amount of this financing for 
each action, where this amount is equal to 
or exceeds ECU 0.5 million, 

(c) 
the selection of the actions 
proposed for Community financing and 
the estimated  amount of this financing  for 
each action, where this amount is equal to 
or exceeds ECU  1  million, 

the procedures for evaluating the 

(d) 
results of the programme, 

the procedures for evaluating the 

(d) 
results of the programme, 

(e)  adaptation of the procedures for 
carrying out the programme laid down in 
Annex II, 

adaptation  of the procedures for 

(e) 
carrying out the programme laid down in 
Annex II, 

the decision to allow the 
(f) 
participation of legal entities from third 
countries. 

the decision to allow the 

(f) 
participation of international  organizations 
and legal entities from  non-member 
countries. 

Article 6 

Article 6 

Upon completion of the programme, the 
Commission shall present to the European 
Parliament, the Council and the Economic 
and Social Committee an evaluation 
report on the results obtained through 
implementing the actions referred  to in 
Article 2. 

Within 2 years after  the start and upon 
completion of the programme, the 
Commission shall present to the European 
Parliament, the Council, the Economic 
and Social Committee and the Committee 
of the Regions, an evaluation report on 
the results obtained through  implementing 
the actions referred  by to in Article 2, 
based upon an analysis by independent 
experts. 

The evaluation reports will also contain a 
detailed appraisal of the effective  presence 
of European Union languages in the 
principal information  netwoks used in the 
Community. 

Article 7 

Article 7 

This Decision is addressed to the Member 
States. 

This Decision is addressed to the Member 
States. 

ANNEX  I, Action  lines 

ANNEX  I, Action  lines 

1.  Action Line  1:  Supporting  the 
construction of an infrastructure  for 
European language resources 

1.  Action  Line  1:  Supporting  the 
construction of an  infrastructure  for 
European language  resources 

Language resources such as dictionaries, 
terminological databanks, grammar books, 
collections of texts and voice recordings 
are an essential raw material for linguistic 
research, the development of language-
processing tools integrated into data 
processing systems and for improving 
translation services. Considerable amounts 
of money have already been invested by 
the Member States, the Commission and 
some private companies on producing 
language resources of varying size and 
complexity. The full utilisation of these 
resources is currently being hampered by 
the fact that they are mainly monolingual 
and their basic specifications  sometimes 
differ,  thus limiting their wider use. In 
addition, they are often  difficult  to locate. 
The aim of this action line is to support 
efforts  to construct  a European 
infrastructure  for multilingual  language 
resources. 

Language resources such as dictionaries, 
terminological  databanks, grammar books, 
collections of texts and voice recordings 
are an essential raw material for  linguistic 
research, the development  of language-
processing tools integrated  into data 
processing systems and for  improving 
translation  services. Considerable amounts 
of money have already been invested by 
the Member States, the Commission and 
some private companies on producing 
language resources of varying size and 
complexity. The full  utilization of these 
resources is currently being hampered by 
the fact that they are mainly monolingual 
and their basic specifications  sometimes 
differ,  thus limiting their wider use. In 
addition, they are often  difficult  to locate. 
The aim of this action line is to support 
efforts  to construct  a European 
infrastructure  for  multilingual  language 
resources. Most of the enterprises 
operating in this sector are SMEs, which 
are often  innovative and efficient,  but 
whose financial  means are insufficient  in 
view of the level of investments required. 

1.1  The Commission will lend its support 
for the starting up of the activities of the 
European language resources association 
(ELRA), whose aims are to: 

1.1  The Commission will lend its support 
for the starting up of the activities of the 
European  language resources association 
(ELRA), whose aims are to: 

-  compile an inventory of the 
language resources available in the 
Community, 

-  compile an inventory of the 
language resources available in the 
Community, 

-  introduce mechanisms to ensure 

that they are disseminated throughout  the 
Community, 

-  introduce mechanisms to ensure 

that they are disseminated  throughout  the 
Community, 

i> 

-  promote the application  of 
common standards to ensure their 
compatibility  and enable quality 
certification. 

-  to promote  and safeguard  high 
standards and high quality of the  language 
resources available in the Community. 

1.2  The work in the field of terminology 
covers a vast range of activities with 
important implications for trade, science, 
the cultural  sector and technology  and the 
implementation  of Community decisions, 
directives and regulations.  This work is 
being undertaken by a very wide range  of 
public and private operators who  often 
lack the means to coordinate their actions 
with those of their counterparts in other 
Member States. 

The Commission will  encourage the 

launch of concerted  actions between 
interested bodies in the different  Member 
States in areas which have priority in 
attaining the objectives of Community 
policies.  To this end, it will, where 
necessary,  make financial  contributions to 
expenditure involved  in the introduction 
of concerted European action among the 
bodies concerned,  particularly addressing 
standards, dissemination  of  information 
and networking. 

This support will  also concern the 
exploitation of the linguistic know-how  of 
the Community  operators on the global 
market 

1.2  The work  in the field of terminology 
covers a vast  range of activities with 
important  implications for trade,  science, 
the cultural  sector and technology  and the 
implementation  of Community  decisions, 
directives and regulations.  This work is 
being undertaken by a very wide range  of 
public and private operators who  often 
lack the means to coordinate their actions 
with those of their counterparts in other 
Member States. 

The Commission  will  encourage the 

launch of concerted  actions  between 
interested bodies  in the different  Member 
States in areas which  have priority in 
attaining the objectives  of Community 
policies.  To this end,  it will,  where 
necessary,  make financial  contributions to 
expenditure  involved  in the  introduction 
of concerted  European  action among the 
bodies concerned,  particularly  addressing 
standards, dissemination  of  information 
and networking. 
The Commission  will  investigate  with the 
Member States the feasibility  of 
encouraging  developments  for  databases 
of languages with limited  economic 
potential. 

i%-

1.3  The availability of lexicographical 
databanks and voice recordings which are 
suited to the development  of data 
processing applications and cover all the 
Community languages is essential  in order 
for a European language industry to 
emerge. Most of the resources currently 
available in Europe are monolingual  and 
mutually incompatible,  which makes them 
impossible to use for the production  of 
multilingual tools. In this field too, the 
Commission will encourage the launch of 
concerted actions between public and 
private sector operators in the  different 
Member States with the aim of developing 
compatible vocal  and  lexicographical 
resources which conform to generally-
accepted standards. 

1.3  The availability of  lexicographical 
databanks and voice  recordings which are 
suited to the development  of data 
processing  applications and cover all the 
Community  languages is essential  in order 
for a European  language industry to 
emerge.  Most  of the resources currently 
available in Europe are monolingual  and 
mutually incompatible,  which makes them 
impossible to use for the production  of 
multilingual  tools.  In this field too, the 
Commission will encourage the launch of 
concerted  actions between  public and 
private sector operators in the  different 
Member States with the aim of developing 
compatible vocal and  lexicographical 
resources which conform  to generally-
accepted  standards. 
Standards will be those recognised in 
accordance with Community  policy. 

1.4 The Commission will ensure that the 
concerted actions receiving its support 
have appropriate links with international 
work in this field. 

1.4 The Commission will ensure that the 
concerted  actions receiving its support 
have appropriate links with  international 
work in this field. 

«*\ 

2.  Action Line 2:  Mobilising and 
expanding the language  industries 

2.  Action  Line 2:  Mobilizing and 
expanding the language  industries 

It is the private sector's role to produce 
and market modern tools facilitating  the 
development of multilingual data 
processing applications and  information 
transfer between languages. Europe has a 
solid scientific and technological base in 
this field which has been strengthened by 
Community research and development 
programmes, in particular the programmes 
relating to information  and 
communications technologies and 
telematic systems of general interest. 
However, the European market lags 
behind when it comes to exploiting the 
advances made by research in the area of 
language engineering. A concentrated 
effort  needs to be made to speed up the 
process of getting new language 
processing technology onto the market, 
particularly as part of the actions for 
disseminating and exploiting the results of 
research carried out under the  framework 
programme and the specific programmes. 
All the action lines proposed  in the 
present programme seek to create an 
environment which is conducive to the 
expansion of the language industries such 
as language engineering and translation 
industries. 

It is the private sector's role to produce 
and market modern tools facilitating the 
development  of multilingual data 
processing applications and  information 
transfer  between languages. Europe has a 
solid scientific  and technological base in 
this field which has been strengthened by 
Community research and development 
programmes, in particular the programmes 
relating to information  and 
communications technologies and 
telematic systems of general  interest. 
However, the European  market lags 
behind when it comes to exploiting the 
advances made by research in the area of 
language engineering. A concentrated 
effort  needs to be made to speed up the 
process of getting new language 
processing technology  onto the market, 
particularly as part of the actions for 
disseminating and exploiting the results of 
research carried  out under the  framework 
programme and the specific  programmes. 
All the action lines proposed  in the 
present programme seek to create an 
environment which is conducive to the 
expansion of the language industries such 
as language engineering and translation 
industries. 

The aim of this action line is to spur the 
language industries into action by 
stimulating technology transfer and 
demand through a limited number of 
shared-cost demonstration projects which 
could act as a catalyst in certain key 
sectors. 

The aim of this action line is to spur the 
language industries into action by 
stimulating technology transfer  and 
demand through a limited number of 
shared-cost  demonstration  projects which 
could act as a catalyst in certain key 
sectors. 

Xo 

2.1 A number of industries has 
experimented with controlled language to 
facilitate drafting of technical documents 
and user support information. This 
approach improves general document 
management and allows effective use of 
machine-translation. A limited number of 
shared cost projects will demonstrate the 
cost-effectiveness  of integrating controlled 
language, authoring and translation tools, 
in operational document management 
systems for different industrial and 
business environments. 

2.1 A number of industries has 
experimented with controlled language to 
facilitate drafting  of technical documents 
and user support  information.  This 
approach  improves general  document 
management  and allows effective  use of 
machine-translation.  A limited number of 
shared cost projects will demonstrate the 
cost-effectiveness  of integrating controlled 
language, authoring and translation tools, 
in operational document  management 
systems for different  industrial and 
business environments. 

2.2 Localization of multimedia software, 
including translation of the spoken and 
written word, is becoming increasingly in 
demand in the Information  Society, to 
stimulate professionalism  andto improve 
competitiveness of the localisation and the 
multimedia industries, a call will be issued 
to launch a small number of shared cost 
projects, demonstrating the integration of 
localisation methodology and tools, 
training of localisation  staff and 
developing best practice guidelines of 
particular importance for SME's. 

2.2 Localization of multimedia  software, 
including translation of the spoken and 
written word, is becoming increasingly in 
demand in the Information  Society, to 
stimulate professionalism  and to improve 
competitiveness of the localization and the 
multimedia industries, a call will be issued 
to launch a small number of shared cost 
projects, demonstrating the integration of 
localization  methodology and tools, 
training of localization  staff and 
developing best practice guidelines of 
particular importance for  SME's. 

2.3 The Commission will promote the use 
of networks by the translation and 
interpretation industries. These give 
access to advanced tools, including 
electronic dictionaries, improve logistics, 
allow integration with other functions,  and 
generally improve the functioning  of the 
translation market. A call for  proposals 
will ask for the definition  and 
implementation of European  translation 
directory services, the definition  of an 
open translation environment in Europe, 
and for pan-European tele-translation and 
tele-interpretation  demonstrators with the 
involvement of the translation industry 
and  profession. 

2.3 The Commission will promote the use 
of networks by the translation and 
interpretation  industries. These give 
access to advanced  tools, including 
electronic dictionaries, improve logistics, 
allow integration  with other functions,  and 
generally improve the functioning  of the 
translation market. A call for  proposals 
will ask for the definition  and 
implementation  of European  translation 
directory services, the definition  of an 
open translation environment  in Europe, 
and for pan-European tele-translation and 
tele-interpretation  demonstrators with the 
involvement  of the translation  industry 
and profession.  In consultation  with the 
performers  concerned,  including 
translation  schools, the Commission  shall 
examine the measures to be taken to 
stimulate modernization  of this  profession 
and to speed up its networking to  increase 
its efficiency  and bring it closer to 
potential users. 

i\ 

3.  Action Line 3:  Promoting the use 
of advanced language tools in the 
European public sector 

3.  Action  Line 3:  Promoting the use 
of advanced language tools in the 
European  public sector 

On account of their linguistic obligations, 
the European institutions, and the 
Commission in particular, have had to 
spend a substantial amount on acquiring 
and perfecting advanced tools which have 
become indispensable for the efficient 
processing of an increasing volume of 
translations and multilingual documents. 
In addition, through their daily translation 
activities they are also helping to compile 
important multilingual language resources 
in the various fields of Community 
activity. With the introduction of the 
Single Market and the removal of internal 
frontiers,  there will be an increase in the 
transfer of information between 
administrations in the different Member 
States. These will be faced with an 
increasing number of situations where 
they will need advanced language tools in 
order to make communication with their 
counterparts in other Member States 
easier and cheaper. Transferring the 
experience acquired by the European 
institutions in the processing of 
rnuitilingualism to the administrations in 
the Member States and sharing the 
language resources which each produces 
can help achieve economies of scale and 
reduce the cost of multilingual 
communication. 

On account of their linguistic obligations, 
the European institutions, and the 
Commission in particular, have had to 
spend a substantial amount on acquiring 
and perfecting advanced tools which have 
become indispensable for the efficient 
processing of an increasing volume of 
translations and multilingual documents. 
In addition, through their daily translation 
activities they are also helping to compile 
important multilingual language resources 
in the various fields of Community 
activity. With the introduction of the 
Single Market and the removal of internal 
frontiers, there will be an increase in the 
transfer of information between 
administrations in the different Member 
States. These will be faced with an 
increasing number of situations where 
they will need advanced language tools in 
order to make communication with their 
counterparts in other Member States 
easier and cheaper. Transferring the 
experience acquired by the European 
institutions in the processing of 
rnuitilingualism  to the administrations in 
the Member States and sharing the 
language resources which each produces 
can help achieve economies of scale and 
reduce the cost of multilingual 
communication. 

The aim of this action line is to encourage 
cooperation between administrations in 
the Member States and the European 
institutions in order to reduce the cost of 
multilingual communication in the 
European public sector  in particular by 
using advanced language tools . In this 
way, the European institutions can act as 
powerful catalysts for the development of 
the European language industry in the 
form of a public demand based on 
common standards or technical 
sp  cific'rtions, 

The aim of this action line is to encourage 
cooperation between administrations in 
the Member States and the European 
institutions in order to reduce the cost of 
multilingual communication in the 
European public sector  in particular by 
using advanced language tools. In this 
way, the European institutions can act as 
powerful  catalysts for the development of 
the European language industry in the 
form of a public demand based on 
common standards or technical 
specifications 

3.1 The long-term goal is the provision of 
an efficient  multilingual processing service 
which satisfies the requirements of the 
Institutions and the administrative 
services concerned in the Member States. 
This will favour the establishment of an 
infrastructure enabling each party to use 
the different linguistic tools available in 
the Community institutions and the 
different administrations without any loss 
of their current functions, whilst 
encouraging convergence in future 
dsvelopments. Calls for tender will be 
issued for the development of tools and 
systems which help reduce translation 
time by making it easier to locate and re 
use texts or sections of documents which 
have already been translated, as well as on 
access to terminological databanks. 
Particular attention will also be devoted 
to tools and applications which make the 
task of interpreting easier. 

3.1 The long-term goal is the provision of 
an efficient  multilingual processing service 
which satisfies the requirements of the 
Institutions and the administrative services 
concerned in the Member States.  This 
will favour the establishment of an 
infrastructure enabling each party to use 
the different  linguistic tools available in 
the Community institutions and the 
different  administrations without any loss 
of their current functions, whilst 
encouraging convergence in future 
developments. Calls for tender will be 
issued for the development of tools and 
systems which help reduce translation 
time by making it easier to locate and re 
use texts or sections of documents which 
have already been translated, as well as on 
access to terminological databanks. 
Particular attention will also be devoted to 
tools and applications which make the 
task of interpreting easier. 

3.2 Work will continue on shared-cost 
cooperation projects conducted with 
certain Member States in order to 
improve terminological tools and existing 
compter-assisted translation systems, and 
will be extended to include other 
interested Member States. 

3.2 Work will continue on shared-cost 
cooperation projects conducted with 
certain Member States in order to improve 
terminological tools and existing compter-
assisted translation systems, and will be 
extended to include other interested 
Member States. 

3.3 A special effort will be made to bring 
the language tools for the new official 
Community languages up to the level of 
the others. 

3.3 A special effort will be made to bring 
the language tools for the new official 
Community languages up to the level of 
the others. 

While taking care to avoid duplication, 
synergies shall be sought between the 
present programme and the other 
programmes relating to the information 
society, in particular the Fourth 
Framework Research and Development 
Programme, the integrated programme for 
SMEs and craft industries, and with IDA: 
"TEN-Telecom applications, INFO 2000, 
SOCRATES, LEONARDO, MEDIA and 
the proposed ARIANE programme". 

4.  Accompanying  measures 

4.  Accompanying  measures 

23 

Achieving the multilingual  information 
society  calls for the devising  of 
converging  strategies on the part of the 
public authorities, associations and 
institutions working to develop  language 
resources and tools, the experimental 
users and the market operators  producing 
and disseminating the information  services 
or providing language processing tools, 
services and systems. To help in this, the 
Commission will carry out the  following 
accompanying measures: 

Achieving the multilingual  information 
society  calls for the devising  of 
converging  strategies on the part of the 
public authorities,  associations and 
institutions working to develop  language 
resources and tools,  the experimental 
users and the market operators  producing 
and disseminating  the information  services 
or providing  language  processing  tools, 
services and systems.  To  help in this, the 
Commission  will  carry out the  following 
accompanying  measures: 

organising concertation and 

coordination between the principal 
operators involved in developing a 
multilingual information  society, 

organizing concertation and 

coordination between the principal 
operators involved  in developing a 
multilingual  information  society, 

assessing progress made towards 

multilingual information  society, and 
identifying  remaining barriers; 

assessing progress made towards 

multilingual  information  society,  and 
identifying  remaining barriers; 

promoting technical  standards which 

meet the linguistic needs of users; 

promoting technical  standards which 

meet the linguistic  needs of users; 

launching promotional  activities and 
user awareness campaigns and supporting 
the exchange of best practice; 

launching promotional  activities and 
user awareness campaigns and  supporting 
the exchange of best  practice; 

exploring the possibilities for  fruitful 

collaboration with third countries and 
multilingual international  organisations. 

exploring the possibilities for  fruitful 

collaboration with third countries and 
multilingual  international  organizations. 

ANNEX  II 

ANNEX  II 

PROCEDURES FOR 
IMPLEMENTING THE 
PROGRAMME 

PROCEDURES FOR 
IMPLEMENTING THE 
PROGRAMME 

1.  The Commission shall implement the  1. 
programme  in  accordance  with  the 
technical  specifications  set  out  in 
Annex I. 

The Commission  shall implement  the 
programme  in  accordance  with  the 
technical  specifications  set  out  in 
Annex I. 

Where  appropriate,  the  action  lines 
in  the  programme  shall  be  carried 
out  by  means  of 
shared-cost 
in  the  case  of 
projects,  except 
developments  exclusively  for 
the 
institutions of the EU,  in which  case 
the  rate  may  be  up  to  100%.  The 
Community's  financial  contribution 
will not  normally be more than  50% 
of  the  cost  of  the  projects,  this 
proportion  decreasing  the  closer  the 
to  being  marketed. 
project 
Universities  and  other 
institutes 
which  do  not  have  cost  accounting 
systems shall be reimbursed  at  100% 
of their additional costs. 

is 

The selection of shared-cost  projects 
is,  in principle,  based  on  the  normal 
procedure  for  calls  for  proposals 
published  in  the  Official  Journal  of 
the  European  Communities.  The 
objectives  shall  be  set  out  in  work 
plans  compiled  in  close  cooperation 
with  the  market  operators  and  the 
committee referred  to in Article 4 of 
the Decision. 

In  principle,  the  action  lines  in  the 
programme  shall  be  implemented  by 
means  of 
projects, 
shared-cost 
except  in  the  case  of  developments 
exclusively  for  the  institutions  of the 
EU, in which case the rate may be up 
to  100%. The Community's  financial 
contribution  to  shared  cost  projects 
will  not  be  more  than  50%  of  the 
cost  of  the  projects,  this  proportion 
decreasing the closer the project  is to 
the  market.  Universities,  institutes 
and other non-profit  making research 
centres  which  do  not  have  cost 
be 
systems 
accounting 
reimbursed 
their 
at 
additional costs. 

shall 
100%  of 

The selection  of shared-cost  projects 
is,  in  principle,  based  on  the  normal 
procedure  for  calls  for  proposals 
published  in  the  Official  Journal  of 
the  European  Communities.  The 
objectives  shall  be  set  out  in  work 
plans  compiled  in  close  cooperation 
with  the  market  operators  and  the 
committee  referred  to  in Article 4 of 
the Decision. 

to 

in-  Article 4, 

In exceptional cases, having received  4. 
the  opinion  of 
the  committee 
the 
referred 
Commission  may consider  proposals 
for  projects  which  have  not  been 
requested  but  which  might  involve 
particularly  promising  and  important 
developments 
the 
objectives  of  the  programme  and 
which  could  not  be  submitted  under 
the  normal  procedure  for  calls  for 
proposals. 

for  achieving 

to 

the 
in  Article  4, 

In exceptional  cases, having received 
the  opinion  of 
committee 
the 
referred 
Commission  may  consider  proposals 
for  projects  which  have  not  been 
requested  but  which  might  involve 
particularly  promising  and  important 
developments 
the 
for 
objectives  of  the  programme  and 
which  could  not  be  submitted  under 
the  normal  procedure  for  calls  for 
proposals. 

achieving 

2<T 

Support for attempts to construct  an  5. 
infrastructure  for European  linguistic 
resources  could  take  the  form  of 
concerted  actions  to  coordinate  the 
multilingual 
development 
of 
linguistic 
particularly 
resources, 
through  "concertation  networks". 
financial 
The 
Community's 
to 
contribution  could  cover  up 
100% of the coordinating costs. 

Support  for  attempts to  construct  an 
infrastructure  for  European  linguistic 
resources  and/or  the  promotion  of 
the use of advances linguistic tools in 
the  European  public  sector,  could 
take the form  of concerted  actions to 
coordinate 
of 
resources, 
multilingual 
through 
"concertation 
particularly 
networks". 
Community's 
The 
financial  contribution  could  cover up 
to  100% of the coordinating costs. 

the  development 

linguistic 

for 

shall  be 

Projects  financed  entirely  by  the 
Commission under study and  service 
implemented 
contracts 
in 
tenders 
through  a  call 
accordance  with  the  Commission's 
financial  regulations.  Transparency 
will  be  ensured  by  the  publication 
and  regular  dissemination  of  the 
to  professional 
work  programme 
associations  and  other 
interested 
bodies. 

shall 

contracts 

through  a  call 
the  Commission 

Projects  financed  entirely  from  the 
Community  budget  under  study  and 
be 
service 
for 
implemented 
tenders  by 
in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Financial  Regulation  and 
the 
Regulation  laying  down  provisions 
of  the  current  Financial  Regulation. 
Transparency  will  be  ensured  by  the 
publication  and  dissemination  of  the 
work  programme  and  the  projects 
selected  to  professional  associations 
and other interested bodies. 

To  implement  the  programme,  the 
Commission  shall  also  carry  out 
activities  drawn  up  in  accordance 
with  the  general  objectives  of  the 
programme  and  the  specific  aims  of 
each action line. Such activities shall 
include 
seminars, 
workshops, 
conferences,  studies,  publications, 
awareness 
training 
campaigns, 
courses,  participation  in  cooperative 
projects  with  the  administrations  in 
the  Member  States,  the  European 
international 
institutions 
and 
organizations, 
national 
language  observatories  and  specific 
support  for 
the  development  of 
language  tools  and  resources  for 
those Community  languages  most in 
need of such assistance. 

helping 

To  implement  the  programme,  the 
Commission  shall  also  carry  out 
activities  drawn  up  in  accordance 
with  the  general  objectives  of  the 
programme  and  the  specific  aims  of 
each  action  line.  Such  activities  shall 
include 
seminars, 
workshops, 
conferences,  studies,  publications, 
awareness 
training 
campaigns, 
courses,  participation  in  cooperative 
projects  with  the  administrations  in 
the  Member  States,  the  European 
institutions 
international 
and 
organizations,  support  for  national 
in 
language 
consultation  with 
national 
authorities  and  specific  support  for 
the  development  of  language  tools 
and  resources  for  those  Community 
languages  most 
in  need  of  such 
assistance. 

observatories 

the 

financial 
All  activities 
support  must, 
appropriate 
occasions,  show  acknowledgement 
of European Union  funding. 

receiving 
at 

2G 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1.  TITLE OF OPERATION 

Promotion  of  the  multilingual  information  society  (MLIS):  muitiannual  action 
programme to preserve and exploit linguistic diversity in Europe. 

2.  BUDGET HEADING INVOLVED 

B5-403 

3.  LEGAL BASIS 

Treaty on European Union, Article 130 (3). 

4.  DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 

4.1  GENERAL OBJECTIVE 

The  programme  is based  on  the  experience  acquired  by  the  Commission  of  the 
European Communities in managing research programmes in the field of language 
engineering and the development, for its own requirements, of language tools which 
facilitate translation and reduce its cost. 

This new programme has four principal objectives: 

•  to stimulate the use of technologies, tools and methods which reduce the cost of 
transferring information between languages and the development of multilingual 
services, 

•  to encourage the strengthening of the language industries, 

•  to encourage the development of multilingual services, 

•  to promote the linguistic diversity of the European Union in the global 

information society. 

The technological revolutions which are profoundly modifying the form and modes of 
human communication have an impact on the evolution of languages and their use. 
The appearance on the scene of a global information society is a challenge to 
linguistic cohesion and diversity in Europe. Economic pressures (the cost of 
rnuitilingualism)  will tend to encourage the use of dominant languages through the 
networks. Those citizens who are not in a position to express themselves easily in 
those languages risk missing out on the benefits of the information society. 

However, the progress achieved in language engineering and language processing 
technologies means that there are now tools available which reduce the cost of 
translation and rnuitilingualism and make it easier to learn languages. 

The principal lines of action of the new programme are as follows: 

1\ 

• 

• 

• 

to support efforts to set up the infrastructure of European language resources and 
to encourage the operators involved, 

to mobilise and reinforce the language industries by promoting the use of modern 
language technologies and tools and their incorporation in computer applications, 

to promote the use of advanced language tools, in particular in the European 
public sector. 

4.2 PERIOD COVERED AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR RENEWAL 

Three years, covering the period from 1.1.1996 to 31.12.1998. 

5.  CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

5.1 NCE 

5.2 DA 

5.3 Type of revenue 

Any revenue will be reemployed in accordance with Article 27 of the Financial 
Regulation of 21 December 1977, as most recently amended by Regulation 610/90 of 
13 March 1990. 

6. TYPE OF EXPENDITURE/REVENUE INVOLVED 

6.1 Provision of services 

Projects financed in whole by the Commission under study and services contracts will 
be implemented through calls for tender in accordance with the financial regulations of 
the  Commission.  These  services  will  generally  concern  studies,  the  organisation  of 
coordination  meetings,  workshops  and  demonstrations  of  language  tools  for  the 
European institutions. They will derive, in particular, from the implementation of action 
lines  2  and  3  and  the  accompanying  measures.  Transparency  will  be  ensured  by 
publishing the work programme and communicating it to commercial associations and 
other interested bodies. 

5.2  Subsidy for joint funding with other sources in the public and private sectors 

Shared-cost projects and joint projects will normally be  selected following  the usual 
procedures  of  calls  for  proposals  published  in the  Official  Journal  of the  European 
Communities. This type of funding applies, in particular, to the activities provided  for 
in the three  action  lines for joint  development  projects.  The  content  ©f the  calls  for 
proposals  will  be  drawn  up  in  doss  consultation  with  market  operators  and  the 
programme  committee.  The  principal  criterion  for  supporting  projects  through  im 
calls for proposals will be their potential contribution to attaining the objectives  of the 
programme.  The Community's financial contribution  to  shared-cost  projects  will  not 
normally exceed  50%. The Community's financial involvement  may of course be  as 
high  as  100% in  the  case  of  projects  involving  exclusively  the  institutions  of  the 
2£ 

European Union. Specific  supplementary bonuses may also be granted to encourage 
the development of a European language resources infirastructure, the participation of 
SMEs and initiativss concerning those Community languages for which the advanced 
language tools  are  least  developed.  The  Community's financial contribution  to  the 
projects involved may cover up to 100% of the coordination costs. 

7. 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

7.1 Method of calculating total cost of operation (relationship between individual 

costs and the total cost) 

The volume of appropriations required to finance the Community contribution to 
implementing the MLIS programme takes account of the financial parameters derived 
from  previous experience and activities and the nature of the actions proposed with a 
view to achieving the specific objectives set out in point 9.1. 

7.2 Itemised breakdown of costs 

Commitment by line of action (current costs in million ecus): 

I 

Supporting  the construction of an 
infrastructure  for European language 
resources 
Mobilising and expanding the 

1 language industries 
rPromoting the use of advanced 
|  language tools in the European public 
j sector 

Accompanying measures 
TOTAL 

1996 
0.5 

1997 
0.5 

1998 
1.0 

TotaT"! 
1 
2.0 

1.0 

2.0 

0.5 
4.0 

1.9 

2.5 

1.0 
5.0 

1.5 

2.5 

3.5 

7.0 

1.0 
6.0 

2,5 
15 

1 

j 

I 

j 

FRAUD  PREVENTION  MEASURES  (AND  RESULTS  OF  MEASURES 
TAKEN) 

Overall monitoring will be exercised by a committee composed of delegates of the 
Member States. Specific monitoring criteria and procedures will be laid down at 
the start of the programme and applied periodically during the implementation 
phase of the programme. The Commission officials, if necessary assisted by 
independent experts, will verify the proper implementation of the projects and 
studies before payment, taking into account the contractual obligations and 
principles of good management. Administrative checks will be carried out by the 
Commission. Verification will be by the Court of Auditors under the terms of the 
Treaty. At the and of the programme an evaluation report will be drawn up by 
independent experts on the results obtained in implementing the lines of action. 

ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 

9.1 Specific and quantifiable  objectives; target population 

Specific objectives 

t% 

Supporting the construction of an infrastructure for  European language resources 

Language resources such as dictionaries, terminological  databanks, grammar books, 
collections  and the like are an essential  raw material  for  linguistic  research,  for the 
development  of  operational  language  processing  tools  and  the  improvement  of 
computer-assisted translation systems. Considerable sums have already been invested 
by the Member States, the Commission and certain private companies in an effort to 
produce  language  resources  of varying  scale  and  complexity.  Exploitation  of  these 
resources is currently hampered by the fact  that they  are mainly monolingual,  their 
basic specifications  are sometimes disparate  -  which limits their use  -  and they are 
often difficult  to locate. The objective of this line of action is to  support the  efforts 
being  undertaken  by  producers  and  users,  with  a  view  to  facilitating  their 
identification, structuring, distribution and utilisation at Community level. 

Mobilising and expanding the language industries 

This line of action will essentially involve promoting the modern language processing 
tools  in those  sectors  of  activity  to  which they  are  particularly  well-suited  and  in 
which  they  are  likely  to  considerably  reduce  translation  costs:  product  labelling, 
controlled-language drafting and computer-assisted translation of documentation and' 
user notices, adapting software to different  language markets, etc. It will also aim to 
promote the use  of language  tools  and means of  communication  to  strengthen the 
efficiency  and competitiveness  of the European translation industry and interpreting 
services. 

Promoting the use of advanced language tools in the European public sector 

This  line  of  action  aims to  exploit  the  Commission's  prior  investment,  for  its  own 
requirements, in the field of machine translation and multilingual tools, and to act as a 
catalyst for the development of the market through public demand. The objective is to 
allow the other European institutions and the civil services of the interested Member 
States to use these tools and to set up cooperation projects to share the development 
costs needed to cover the Community's new working languages. 

Accompanying measures 

In addition to the measures to strengthen coordination of the suitable initiatives in the 
language field undertaken under various  Community  programmes,  and to  speed up 
their impact,  the  accompanying  measures will  involve  the  organisation  of  strategic 
coordination  meetings  with  the  principal  market  operators,  launching  studies  and 
strategic  surveys so  as to  monitor the development  of the  market  and evaluate the 
impact  of  the  programme,  stimulating  standardisation  work,  launching  promotion 
measures and measure to increase user awareness,  and encouraging cooperation and 
the exchange of best practice in public and private bodies which are taking  steps to 
adapt  to  a  multilingual  society  and  market.  These  measures  will  also  involve 
examining  opportunities  for  advantageous  cooperation  with  third  countries  and 
multilingual international organisations. 

Target population 

3a 

The target groups comprise: 

- 

- 

the national language departments or institutions with strategic and executive 
responsibilities in the Member States and regions, 
language "professionals": translators, terminologists, publishers of grammar 
books and dictionaries, teachers of languages and specialised bodies and institutes 
in the Member States, 

-  creators of language resources and the specialised bodies which process 

them 

to give them a structure, 

-  computer service companies and software publishers specialised in the production 

of language processing tools, 

-  major groups of users of these tools (export-oriented industries, providers of 
information services and international communications, software publishers, 
administrations and institutions which need to communicate in several languages, 
etc.). 

9.2 Grounds for the operation 

Subsidiarity 

Language policies are the responsibility of the Member States. Nevertheless, 
promoting the development of modern language processing tools and their use is a 
field  of activity where Community action is justified in order to achieve 
substantial economies of scale through promoting suitable cooperation between the 
operators involved in the various language zones. The activities under the programme 
will be commensurate with the objectives to be achieved and will involve only those 
fields  likely to achieve an added value at European level. 

Choice of ways and means 

The costs will be reduced as much as possible through competition by means of calls 
for tenders and proposals. The Commission contribution to shared-cost projects will 
coordination meetings should avoid any duplication of effort and promote synergy. 
The choice of ways and means takes account of the guidelines set out in the 
Bangemann report and in the Commission action plan COM (94) 347, as well as of 
the consultations held with industry, users and the representatives of the Member 
States in preparing the programme. 

Spin-oft and multiplier effects expected 

Promoting  the  development  of  the  language  industries  and  the  use  of  modern 
language tools has spin-off benefits of great interest to the Community: 

promotion of an industry and services which create jobs, 
reduction in the cost of translating and transferring information between 
languages (the number of pages translated in the Community in 1988 was 
estimated at 100 million), 
new outlets offered by linguistic adaptation, of products and services to local 
markets, 
strengthening of the cohesion of the Community in its linguistic diversity, 

preservation of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Community in the global 
information society. 

The Community's means of action - shared-cost projects and support for joint projects 
have a multiplier effect through the supplementary funding contributed by the 
partners taking part in these projects. Moreover, they achieve a fiirther multiplier 
effect by encouraging investment by the market operators. 

Factors of uncertainty 

The main factors of uncertainty which might affect the specific results of the 
programme concern the readiness of the private sector to invest in the development of 
modern language processing tools before the market for such products has taken  off. 

9.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation 

Some of the projects will be devoted to developing indicators for monitoring the 
rnuitilingualism  market in Europe, in terms of both developing the supply of products 
and the industry and demand. In the very first year of the programme, a 
methodological framework will be laid down for the systematic collection of data in 
the various  fields. 

An analysis of these annually-updated indicators will allow an assessment of the 
effectiveness of the measures taken in the course of the programme. Before the end of 
the programme an evaluation report will be drawn up on the results achieved in 
implementing the lines of action. 

10. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE (PART A OF SECTION 3 OF THE 

GENERAL BUDGET) 

The expenditure is calculated per year. 

10.1  Additional staff in the Commission 

Implementation of the proposed action will require the additional allocation of 2 
officials (1 A-grade post and 1 C-grade post, cost = ECU 160 000). Effective 
mobilisation of the necessary administrative resources will depend on the 
Commission's annual decision on the allocation of resources, taking account in 
particular of the additional staff and sums approved by the budgetary authority. 
Additional requests can in no way prejudice the decision which the Commission 
will have to take on the allocation of resources. 

10.2  Amount of staff and administrative expenditure involved 

The annual amounts of administrative expenditure are as follows: 

10.2.1  National experts seconded 

A-1520 

Total expenditure: ECU 70 000 

31 

Two national officials will have to be seconded to coordinate the MLIS projects 
between the EU and the national/regional levels. 

10.2.2  Meetings of experts 

A-250 

Total expenditure: ECU 120 000 

To prepare the work  programme, the Commission  will  consult  outside  experts 
and representatives of users, industry administrations and research. 

9 meetings are planned, with 1 participant per Member State (cost = 880 x 15 x 9 
= 118 800, rounded up to ECU 120 000). 

10.2.3  Meetings of the Committee 

A-2510 

Total expenditure: ECU 40 000 

The MLIS programme committee mentioned in the Council Decision will hold an 
average of 3 meetings per year, with 1  participant per Member State (cost: 880 x 
15 3 -  39 600, rounded up to ECU 40 000). 

10.2.4  Official travel 

A-130 

Total expenditure: ECU 50 000 

Total official travel costs for Commission staff and the seconded national experts 
are estimated at ECU 50 000 and will be taken from the overall amount allocated 
toDGXm. 

*>3> 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 456  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

15  16  01 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-96-465-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-08914-1 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985  Luxembourg 

M