Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on: - the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending Decision No 2085/97/EC establishing a support programme, including translation, in the field of books and reading (Ariane Programme)', and - the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending Decision No 719/96/EC establishing a programme to support artistic and cultural activities having a European dimension (Kaleidoscope programme)'
Date: 1998-11-19
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU programme, cultural cooperation, cultural policy, cultural transmission, literature, translation

C 51/92

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.2.1999

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on:

— the ‘Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending Decision
No 2085/97/EC establishing a support programme, including translation, in the field of
books and reading (Ariane Programme)’, and

— the ‘Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending Decision
No 719/96/EC establishing a programme to support artistic and cultural activities having
a European dimension (Kaleidoscope programme)’

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

(1999/C 51/15)

having regard to the Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending
Decision No 2085/97/EC establishing a support programme, including translation, in the field
of books and reading (Ariane Programme) and a Proposal for a European Parliament and
Council Decision amending Decision No 719/96/EC establishing a programme to support
artistic and cultural activities having a European dimension (Kaleidoscope programme)
(COM(98) 539 final — 98/0282 COD — 98/0283 COD) (1);

having regard to the decision taken by the Council on 16 October 1998, under Article 128 and
the first paragraph of Article 198c of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to
consult the Committee of the Regions on this matter;

having regard to the Decision of its Bureau of 23 October 1998 to direct Commission 7 —
Education, Vocational Training, Culture, Youth, Sport and Citizens’ Rights — to draw up an
Opinion on this subject;

having regard to the Committee of the Regions Opinions on the Kaleidoscope 2000 programme
(artistic and cultural activities) (CdR 145/95) (2) and the Ariane programme (books and
reading) (CdR 146/95) (3);

having regard to the Draft Opinion (CdR 227/98) adopted by Commission 7 on 1 October
1998 (Rapporteurs: Mr Mun˜ oa Ganuza and Ms Tallberg),

unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 26th plenary session of 18 and 19 November
1998 (meeting of 19 November).

1.

Introduction

2. Specific comments

1.1.
The Commission proposes the extension of
Ariane (the support programme, including translation,
for books and reading) and Kaleidoscope (the support
programme in the field of artistic and cultural activities
having a European dimension) (which both come to an
end on 31 December 1998) to the 31 December 1999.
This is proposed in the light of the need to ensure
continuity for cultural actions provided for in the
programmes until the single framework programme in
support of culture (2000-2004) enters into effect. The
Commission also proposes a budgetary increase to cover
the extended period: 3 million euro for Ariane giving
a total allocation of 10 million euro for the entire
programme (1997-1999) and 7,9 million euro for
Kaleidoscope giving a total allocation of 34,4 million
euro for the entire programme (1996-1999).

(1) OJ C 319, 16.10.1998, p. 13-14.
(2) OJ C 100, 2.4.1996, p. 30.
(3) OJ C 100, 2.4.1996, p. 35.

2.1.
The COR supports the extension of the pro-
grammes to 31 December 1999 in the light of the results
of the evaluation of these programmes which have
outlined their positive contributions to developing coop-
eration in the cultural sector across the EU.

2.2.
It notes the Commission’s conclusions that in
just a short time and with limited financial resources the
Ariane programme has helped to develop high-quality
cooperation across borders, especially cooperation based
on partnership and cultural networks, and to bring
literary works from the Member States to the notice of
and within the reach of Europe’s citizens. It also notes
that despite its limited duration and modest financial
resources, Kaleidoscope has led to high-quality cooper-
ation beyond national boundaries, particularly on the
basis of partnerships and cultural exchanges, while
improving access for the European public to a familiarity
with and experience of the Member States’ culture,
especially music, theatre, opera, dance, art and multi-
media events.

22.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 51/93

2.3.
The COR concurs with the Commission’s obser-
vation that the programmes need to be extended in
order to ensure continuity of cultural actions prior to
the adoption of the framework programme in support
of culture.

The COR notes the conclusions of the tripartite
2.4.
agreement between the Council, the European Parlia-
ment and the Commission on 21 September 1998 which
supports an increase of 4,1 million euro for Ariane and
10,2 million euro for Kaleidoscope. This has been agreed
in the light of the need to ensure that the budget
corresponds to 1998 allocations. The Commission has
explained that it was however unable to propose this
amount in its proposal for a decision, due to technical
constraints in having to respect the preliminary draft
budget.

Brussels, 19 November 1998.

3. Conclusion

The COR supports the Commission’s proposal
3.1.
to extend the programmes Ariane and Kaleidoscope
until 31 December 1999.

3.2.
The COR supports the tripartite agreement,
between the Council, the European Parliament and the
Commission which proposes an increase of 4,1 million
euro for the Ariane programme, raising the global
allocation for the entire programme under Article 6 for
the new duration of the programme (1997-1999) to
11,1 million euro. It also supports the tripartite agreee-
ment’s proposed increase of 10,2 million euro for the
Kaleidoscope programme, raising the global allocation
for the entire programme. under Article 6 for the new
duration of the programme (1996-1999) to 36,7 million
euro.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Manfred DAMMEYER