Decision No 451/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 February 2003 amending Decision No 253/2000/EC establishing the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education "Socrates"
Date: 2003-02-27
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, action programme, association agreement, cooperation agreement, education, international cooperation

L 69/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

13.3.2003

DECISION No 451/2003/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 27 February 2003

amending Decision No 253/2000/EC establishing the second phase of the Community action
programme in the field of education ‘Socrates’

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular Articles 149 and 150 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (2),

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

establishes

that Community

the European Parliament and of

Section IV, Point B.2 of the Annex to Decision No 253/
2000/EC of
the
Council (4)
assistance
towards the realisation of projects selected for funding
under the Community action programme in the field of
the
(hereinafter
education ‘Socrates’
‘programme’) will not normally exceed 75 % of the total
costs of the project, except in the case of accompanying
measures.

referred to as

Decision No 819/95/EC of the European Parliament and
of
the Council of 14 March 1995 establishing the
Community action programme ‘Socrates’ (5) did not
stipulate a minimum level of cofinancing.

actions of

decentralised

the
Projects within the
programme cannot be realised without a significant
contribution in the form of staff time and infrastructure
support from the organisations involved in the project
partnership. The Community assistance granted to these
projects does not cover the costs of the contributions of
such staff, but may cover up to 100 % of the other costs
incurred in realising the project.

The target group for such projects is primarily small
institutions such as schools and adult education insti-
tutes, which generally have
limited administrative
resources.

The Community has not previously required institutions
participating in projects within the decentralised actions
of the programme to provide information about the cost
of the contribution of the staff they employ towards the
realisation of the projects.

The sums granted as Community assistance to projects
within the decentralised actions of the programme are
small, averaging EUR 3 315 in 2000.

(1) OJ C 203 E, 27.8.2002, p. 133.
(2) OJ C 241, 7.10.2002, p. 97.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 3 September 2002 (not yet
Journal) and Council Decision of 27

published in the Official
February 2003.

(4) OJ L 28, 3.2.2000, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 10. Decision as last amended by Decision

No 68/2000/EC (OJ L 10, 14.1.2000, p. 1).

(7)

(8)

(9)

The European Parliament
in its Resolution of 28
February 2002 on the implementation of the Socrates
programme has expressed concern about the dispropor-
tionately onerous administrative procedures for benefici-
aries of small grants, especially under the Comenius
action, and has called on the Commission to propose
any legislative changes necessary to abolish the cofinan-
cing requirement for such grants.

The Commission in its White Paper — Part II — Action
Plan entitled Reforming the Commission committed
itself
to improving and simplifying its internal and
external procedures, as far as they relate to other institu-
tions, Member States and citizens.

It is not consistent with the principles of simplification
and proportionality to apply a new requirement on the
institutions participating in projects within the decentra-
lised actions of the programme to account for the contri-
bution towards their realisation made by staff employed
by these institutions, solely in order to demonstrate that
the Community assistance does not normally exceed
75 % of the total costs of the project.

(10)

There is a need therefore to amend the provision
contained in the first paragraph of Section IV, Point B.2
of the Annex to Decision No 253/2000/EC in order to
permit appropriate flexibility in the application of this
cofinancing requirement,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The first paragraph of Section IV, Point B.2 of the Annex to
Decision No 253/2000/EC shall be replaced by the following:

‘As a general rule, Community financial assistance granted
for projects under this programme is intended partially to
offset the estimated cost necessary to carry out the activities
concerned and may cover a maximum period of three
years, subject to a periodic review of progress achieved. In
accordance with the cofinancing principle, the beneficiary's
contribution may take the form of the provision of the
personnel and/or infrastructure necessary for the realisation
of the project. Assistance may be granted in advance to
enable preparatory visits to take place in respect of the
projects in question.’

13.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 69/7

This Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal
of the European Union.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 27 February 2003.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. COX

For the Council

The President

M. CHRISOCHOÏDIS