WRITTEN QUESTION P-2235/00 by Maria Martens (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Problems in implementing the Culture 2000 programme.
Date: 2000-06-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, accession to the European Union, aid recipient, aid system, cultural policy, financial aid

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/177

(2001/C 81 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2235/00

by Maria Martens (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 June 2000)

Subject: Problems in implementing the Culture 2000 programme

There have been a number of problems in implementing the Culture 2000 programme involving an
absence of clear planning and priorities for the following call for proposals for 2001. In addition, the
European cultural contact points may face financial problems because of the lack of adequate financial
support. Finally, the Commission has failed to make payments for the year 2000.

Can the Commission give the reason for the lack of clear planning for the call for proposals for

1.
2001?

2.

How is the Commission going to improve the financing of the European cultural contact points?

3. When can the projects for the year 2000 receive their contracts and payments?

4. What does the Commission intend to do about the problems referred to above?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

The Decision establishing the Culture 2000 programme (No 508/2000/EC) was signed by the President of
Parliament and by the President of the Council on 14 February 2000 and published in the Official Journal
on 10 March 2000 (1). Only then was the Commission able to publish the call for proposals for the year
2000. This was done (cid:129) using the emergency procedure (cid:129) on 8 April 2000 (2).

1.
The Commission had intended to publish the call for applications for 2001 in July 2000. However,
in order to allow operators from the applicant countries to participate in the Culture 2000 programme, in
accordance with Parliament(cid:146)s wishes, the Commission decided to publish the call for proposals for 2001 in
the autumn of 2000, to coincide with the adoption of specific Association Council decisions allowing
applicant countries to participate in the programme from 2001. The priorities for 2001 will be specified at
that stage.

In order to improve procedures for the funding of cultural contact points and to take account of the
2.
fact that these are mentioned specifically in the Culture 2000 programme, the Commission has decided,
for the year 2000, to define its contractual relations with these contact points more precisely. Furthermore,
it is important to note that the level of financing is approved every year by the Culture 2000 management
committee. The Commission(cid:146)s contribution is determined by the contributions made by the Member States
to their respective contact points, with each side providing 50 % of total financing.

As specified in the call for proposals for 2000, in the section entitled (cid:145)Indicative timetable(cid:146), the

3.
Commission plans to be able to dispatch the first contracts in September 2000.

4.
The Commission would draw the Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention to the fact that, so far, it has met
all deadlines under difficult circumstances. Furthermore, it endeavours constantly to adapt the programme
and to bring it into line with reality and the legitimate needs of cultural operators, while at the same time
observing the administrative and financial rules in force.

(1) OJ L 63, 10.3.2000.
(2) OJ C 101, 8.4.2000.