Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level and support specific activities in the field of education and training
Date: 2003-05-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Community budget, EU Member State, EU aid, EU programme, education policy, financial aid, organisation of teaching, vocational training

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 27.5.2003
COM (2003) 273 final

2003/0114 (COD)

Proposal for a

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION

establishing a Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level
and support specific activities in the field of education and training

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Introduction

The Treaty establishing the European Community provides that the latter shall contribute to
the development of quality education by supporting and supplementing the action of Member
States,  while  fully  respecting  their  responsibility  for  the  content  of  teaching  and  the
organisation of education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity, shall implement a
vocational  training  policy  which  shall  support  and  supplement  the  action  of  the  Member
States, while fully respecting their responsibility for the content and organisation of vocational
training,  and  shall  foster  cooperation with third countries. The detailed work programme on
the  follow-up  of  the  objectives  of  education  and  training  systems  in  Europe  adopted  by  the
Council on 14 June 2002 sets out a programme of activity that requires support at Community
level. The Laeken Declaration annexed to the conclusions of the European Council of 14 and
15 December 2001 also asserts that one of the basic challenges to be resolved by the European
Union is to bring citizens closer to the European design and the European institutions.

The  Declaration  of  the  European  Union  on  the  occasion  of  the  50th  anniversary  of  the
Universal  Declaration  on  Human  Rights,  Vienna,  10  December  1998,  states  that  the  EU
should  “further  develop  cooperation  in  the  field  of  human  rights,  such  as  education  and
training  activities,  in  coordination  with  other  relevant  organisations,  and  ensure  the
continuation  of  the  Human  Rights  Masters  Programme  organised  by  fifteen  European
universities”.

There is an increased need to train national judges in the application of Community law and
for such training to be supported by the European Community, notably following adoption of
Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules
on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty, which increases the power of
national courts to apply these Treaty provisions.

There is thus an expectation that the Community will act in the field of education and training,
in addition to the actions made possible by the Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci programmes.

Background

For several years, support has been provided for promoting bodies active at European level in
the  field  of  education  and  training  and  for  specific  activities  in  this  field,  especially  under
headings in Part A of the budget:

heading A-3010 co-finances the operating costs of the College of Europe;

heading  A-3011  co-finances  the  operating  costs  of  the  European  University  Institute,
Florence;

heading A-3012 co-finances the operating costs of the European Law Academy, Trier;

heading  A-3013  co-finances  the  operating  costs  of  the  European  Institute  of  Public
Administration, Maastricht;

heading A-3014  co-finances  the  operating  costs  of  the  European  Inter-University  Centre  for
Human Rights and Democratisation;

2

heading  A-3017  co-finances  the  operating  costs  and  costs  of  actions  of  organisations  for
judicial cooperation in the field of European law;

heading A-3022 co-finances actions conducted by study and research centres;

heading  A-3027  co-finances  the  operating  costs  of  the  International  Centre  for  European
Training;

heading A-3044 co-finances the operating costs of the European Agency for Development in
Special Needs Education.

Community operations in the field of education and training have also been funded under two
headings in Part B of the budget, without any legal basis:

in  recent  years,  heading  B3-1000  has  made  it  possible  to  fund  preparatory  measures  in
connection  with  the  follow-up  of  the  concrete  future  objectives  of  education  and  training
systems;

for  several  years,  heading  B3-304  has  made  it  possible  to  support  activities  seeking  to
disseminate information on European integration in higher education circles, in particular by
means of the Jean Monnet Project.

All these operations have hitherto been carried out without any legal basis.

The main activities of the above educational institutions are as follows:

College  of  Europe:  post-graduate  studies  in  the  European  dimension  of  law,  economics,
political and social sciences and the humanities;

European University Institute, Florence: contribution to the development of Europe’s cultural
and scientific heritage by higher education and research;

European  Institute  of  Public  Administration,  Maastricht:  training  of  national  and  European
officials to enable them to discharge their responsibilities in the field of European integration;

European  Law  Academy,  Trier:  university-level  continuing  education  for  European  law
practitioners and users;

European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation: European Masters
Degree  in  Human  Rights  and  Democratisation,  Advanced  Internship  Programme  and  other
education, training and research activities in promotion of human rights and democratisation;

European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education: improvement of the quality
of special needs education and institution of extensive and long-term European cooperation in
this field;

International Centre for European Training: study, education, training and research on issues
of  European  and  world  unification,  federalism,  regionalism  and  the  changing  structures  of
contemporary society, from a world federalist viewpoint.

3

It  should  also  be  possible  to  award  operating  grants  to  European  associations  active  in  the
field  of  education  and  training  which  pursue  an  aim  of  general  European  interest  and  are
representative at European level.

The main information and study actions on  European integration, supported in particular  by
the Jean Monnet Project and heading A-3022, are as follows:

implementation of European integration studies in universities;

creation and support of national associations of teachers specialised in European integration;

promotion of reflection and discussion on the process of European integration;

promotion  of  academic  research  on  EU  priority  subjects,  such  as  the  future  of  Europe  or
dialogue between peoples and cultures, including research by young academics.

Actions to support training in European law target organisations for judicial cooperation and
seek to promote training in European law, especially for national judges.

Objectives

The  adoption  of  Council  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  1605/2002  of  25  June  2002  on  the
Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities1 and the
decision  to  base  the  structure  of  the  Commission  budget  on  the  ABB  (Activity  Based
Budgeting) approach require basic acts to be adopted for a number of grants hitherto financed
under  appropriations  entered  in  Part  A  (administrative  appropriations)  of  the  Commission
section of the budget (section III).

The  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  6  May  1999  between  the  European  Parliament,  the
Council  and  the  Commission  on  budgetary  discipline  and  improvement  of  the  budgetary
procedure2 also sets clear time limits for recourse to preparatory actions without a legal basis.

The  purpose  of  this  Decision  is  therefore  to  adopt  an  act  providing  a  basis  for  grants  to
promote  bodies  active  at  European  level  and  support  specific  activities  in  the  field  of
education and training, for a period of five years (2004–2008).

In  a  statement  in  connection  with  the  adoption  of  the  new  Financial  Regulation,  the
Commission  publicly  announced  its  intention  of  providing  basic  acts  for  grants  hitherto
financed under Part A. In this statement, “the European Parliament and the Council note the
Commission’s  intention  of  submitting  a  proposal  for  a  Framework  Regulation  in  which  the
overall criteria regarding selection and the awarding of grants for the functioning of the bodies
provided for in Article 108(1)(b) may be specified”.

Legal basis

The proposal is based on Articles 149 and 150 TEC. The procedure to be followed is that of
Article 251 TEC: the decision is to be adopted in co-decision by the European Parliament and
the Council on the basis of a Commission proposal.

1

2

OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
OJ L 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.

4

                                                
Budgetary impact

Since  the  proposal  essentially  addresses  the  technical  need  to  provide  a  legal  basis  for
operations for which no such basis currently exists, the amounts provided for are largely based
on those allocated in the budget of the European Union for the 2003 financial year.

The total amount proposed is EUR 129.62 million.

Description of articles

Article 1 states the objective of  the  programme,  viz.  to  provide  support  for  bodies  active  at
European level and for specific activities in the field of education and training.

Article  2  states  the  conditions  of  access  to  the  programme  and  refers  to  the  Annex,  which
describes the three parts of the programme:

grants for the operation of bodies specified in the Decision;

grants for the operation of other organisations pursuing an aim of general European interest;

action grants for  the  other operations mentioned  above  (support  for  activities  in  the  field  of
higher  education  relating  to  European  integration;  support  for  activities  contributing  to  the
follow-up  of  the  objectives  of  education  and  training  systems;  support  for  training  in
European law).

The  requirement  for  beneficiaries  to  have  been  established  for  at  least  two  years  does  not
apply to those designated at point 2.2.1 of the Annex to the Decision.

Article 3 provides for the geographic coverage of the programme to take in the Member States
and in some cases possibly the candidate countries and the EFTA/EEA countries.

Article 4 refers to the Annex for the arrangements for selecting the programme’s beneficiaries.
Grants for the operation of organisations other than the bodies mentioned in the Decision and
all action grants are to be awarded on the basis of annual calls for proposals.

Article 5 refers to the Annex for the conditions governing award of grants.

Article 6 sets the programme allocation at EUR 129.62 million for the period 2004–2008.

Article 7 lays down the arrangements for interim and final evaluations of the programme and
its renewal.

5

2003/0114 (COD)

Proposal for a

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION

establishing a Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level
and support specific activities in the field of education and training

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular
Articles 149(4) and 150(4) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission3,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee4,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions5,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty6,

Whereas:

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

3

4

5

6

7

The Treaty provides that the Community is to contribute to the development of quality
education by supporting and supplementing the action of Member States, to implement
a vocational training policy which supports and supplements the action of the Member
States, and to foster cooperation with third countries.

The Laeken Declaration annexed to the conclusions of the European Council of 14 and
15  December  2001  asserts  that  one  of  the  basic  challenges  to  be  resolved  by  the
European  Union  is  how  to  bring  citizens  closer  to  the  European  design  and  the
European institutions.

The  detailed  work  programme  on  the  follow-up  of  the  objectives  of  education  and
training  systems  in  Europe7,  adopted  by  the  Council  on  14  June  2002,  sets  out  a
programme of activity that requires support at Community level.

The Declaration of the European Union on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the
Universal  Declaration  on  Human  Rights,  Vienna,  10  December  1998,  states  that  the
Union  should  further  develop  cooperation  in  the  field  of  human  rights,  such  as

OJ C […], […], p. […].
OJ C […], […], p. […].
OJ C […], […], p. […].
OJ C […], […], p. […].
OJ C 142, 14.6.2002, p. 1.

6

                                                
education and training activities, in coordination with other relevant organisations, and
ensure  the  continuation  of  the  European  Masters  Programme  in  human  rights  and
democratisation, organised by fifteen European universities.

The Conclusions of the Cologne European Council of 4 June 1999 stated that, in order
to  enhance  the  sustainability  and  continuity  of  the  European  Masters  programme  in
human  rights  and  democratisation,  “further  attention  should  be  given  to  the  issue  of
budget security”.

Headings  A-3010,  A-3011,  A-3012,  A-3013,  A-3014,  A-3017,  A-3022,  A-3027,
A-3044, B3-1000 and B3-304 of the general budget of the European Communities for
the  financial  year  2003  and  previous  financial  years  have  proved  their  worth  in  the
field of education and training.

The  College  of  Europe,  providing  postgraduate  courses  in  law,  economics,  politics,
social  sciences  and  humanities  with  a  European  dimension,  the  European  University
Institute, contributing to the development of European cultural and scientific heritage
by  means  of  higher  education  and  research,  the  European  Institute  of  Public
Administration, training national and European civil servants in the field of European
integration,  the  European  Academy  of  Law,  providing  university-level  training  of
European law professionals and users, the European Inter-University Centre in Human
Rights  and  Democratisation,  providing  a  European  Masters  degree  and  Advanced
Internships and other education, training and research services in promotion of human
rights  and  democratisation,  the  European  Agency  for  Development  in  Special  Needs
Education, working to improve the quality of education for pupils with special needs
and  to  foster  sustainable  European  cooperation  in  this  field,  and  the  International
Centre  for  European  Training,  providing  teaching,  training  and  research  on  issues  of
Europeanisation,  globalisation,  federalism,  regionalism  and  the  transformation  of
contemporary  social  structures,  constitute  bodies  pursuing  aims  of  general  European
interest.

There  is  an  increased  need  to  train  national  judges  in  the  application  of  Community
law  and  for  such  training  to  be  supported  by  the  Community,  notably  following
adoption  of  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  1/2003  of  16  December  2002  on  the
implementation  of  the  rules  on  competition  laid  down  in  Articles  81  and  82  of  the
Treaty8, which increases the power of national courts to apply these Treaty provisions.

Council  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  1605/2002  of  25  June  2002  on  the  Financial
Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities9, hereinafter
“The Financial Regulation”, requires a basic act to be provided to cover these existing
support actions.

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

(10)  The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission undertook, at the time of
the  adoption  of  the  Financial  Regulation10,  to  achieve  the  objective  of  ensuring  that
this basic act enters into force as from the financial year 2004.

8

9

10

OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1.
OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
Statement of 13 June 2002 on adoption of the Financial Regulation, re Article 108.

7

                                                
(11) 

It  is  necessary  to  ensure  that  the  institutions  to  which  the  Community  has  allocated
funding  support over  previous  years  enjoy  an  adequate  measure  of  stability  and
continuity of funding under the new financial regulations.

(12)  Provision should be made for the geographic scope of this programme to extend to the
Member  States  and  possibly,  in  the  case  of  some  actions,  to  the  candidate  countries
and the EFTA/EEA countries.

(13)  Any non-Community financing from State resources must comply with Articles 87 and

88 of the Treaty.

(14)  This  Decision  establishes  a  financial  framework  for  the  entire  duration  of  the
programme which is to be the principal point of reference for the budgetary authority,
within  the  meaning  of  point  33  of  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  6  May  1999
between  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  on  budgetary
discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure11.

(15)  Any  support  granted  under  this  Decision  must  comply  strictly  with  the  principles  of

subsidiarity and proportionality,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1 – (cid:1)Programme objective(cid:2)

1.

2.

This Decision establishes a Community  action  programme in the field of education
and training, to support bodies and their activities which seek to extend and deepen
knowledge  of  the  building  of  Europe,  or  to  contribute  to  the  achievement  of  the
common  policy  objectives  in  the  field  of  education  and  training,  both  inside  and
outside the Community.

The general objective of the programme is to support the activities of bodies in the
field of education and training.

The following activities are covered by the programme:

a)

b)

the ongoing work programme of a body operating at European or world level
which pursues an aim of general European interest in the field of education and
training  or  an  objective  forming  part  of  the  European  Union’s  policy  in  this
area;

a specific action promoting the European Union’s action in this area, providing
information on European integration and  the objectives pursued by the Union
in its international relations or supporting Community action and relaying it at
national level.

In  particular,  these  activities  must  contribute,  or  be  capable  of  contributing,  to  the
development  and  implementation  of  Community  cooperation  policy  and  actions  in
the field of education and training.

11

OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.

8

                                                
3.

The programme shall start on 1 January 2004 and shall end on 31 December 2008.

Article 2 – (cid:1)Access to the programme(cid:2)

To  be  eligible  for  a  grant,  a  body  must  satisfy  the  requirements  of  the  Annex  and  have  the
following characteristics:

a)

b)

c)

it must be an independent and non-profit-making legal person primarily active in the
field of education and training, with an objective aimed at the public good;

it must have been legally established for more than two years and have had its annual
statement of accounts for the two preceding years certified by a registered auditor;

its activities must be in accordance with the principles underlying Community action
in the field of education and training and take account of the priorities set out in the
Annex.

In exceptional circumstances, the Commission may grant a derogation  from  the requirement
under point (b) of the first paragraph, provided that this would not compromise the protection
of Community financial interests.

Article 3 – (cid:1)Access to the programme(cid:2)

Participation  in  actions under the programme  may  be  open  to  the  EFTA/EEA  countries  and
the candidate countries for accession to the European Union, in accordance with the relevant
provisions in the instruments governing relations between the European Community and these
countries.

Article 4 – (cid:1)Selection of beneficiaries(cid:2)

Operating  grants  for  the  ongoing  work  programme  of  a  body  pursuing  an  aim  of  general
European  interest  in  the  field  of  education  and  training  or  an  objective  forming  part  of
the European  Union’s  policy  in  this  area  shall  be  awarded  in  accordance  with  the  overall
criteria laid down in the Annex.

Grants for actions specified in the programme must be awarded in accordance with the overall
criteria laid down in the Annex. Actions shall be selected by means of a call for proposals.

Article 5 – (cid:1)Award of the grant(cid:2)

Grants under the different actions of the programme shall be awarded in compliance with the
provisions set out in the relevant part of the Annex.

Article 6 – [Financial provisions]

1.

The  financial  framework  for  the  implementation  of  the  programme  for  the  period
specified in Article 1(3) is EUR 129.62 million.

9

2.

1.

2.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the Budgetary Authority within the
limits of the financial perspective.

Article 7 – (cid:1)Monitoring and evaluation(cid:2)

No  later  than  31  December  2007,  the  Commission  shall  submit  a  report  to  the
European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  the  achievement  of  the  programme’s
objectives  and  shall,  if  appropriate,  make  proposals  for  any  adjustment  to  be  made
with a view to continuing or not continuing the programme.

This report shall be based, inter alia, on an external evaluation report which must be
available no later than the end of 2006 and which must appraise at least the overall
pertinence  and  coherence  of  the  programme,  the  effectiveness  of  its  execution
(preparation, selection, implementation of the actions) and the overall and individual
effectiveness of the various actions in terms of achievement of the objectives as set
out in Article 1 and in the Annex.

The  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  shall,  in  accordance  with  the  Treaty,
decide  on  the  continuation  of  the  programme  as  from  1  January  2009.  Before
presenting proposals to this end, the Commission shall have the external evaluation
of the programme updated and shall take account of the outcome of this evaluation in
its proposals.

No  later  than  31  December  2009,  the  Commission  shall  present  to  the  European
Parliament  and  the  Council  a  report  on  the  achievement  of  the  programme’s
objectives.  This  report  shall  be  based,  inter  alia,  on  the  outcome  of  the  external
evaluation  and  shall  assess  the  results  obtained  by  the  beneficiaries  of  the
programme, in particular as regards the effectiveness and efficiency of their actions
(considered overall and individually) in achieving the objectives set out in Article 1
and in the Annex.

Article 8 – [Entry into force]

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

Done at Brussels, […]

For the European Parliament
The President
[…]

For the Council
The President
[…]

10

ANNEX

1.

INTRODUCTION

The objectives laid down in Article 1 are to be implemented by means of the actions
set out in this Annex.

This Annex contains two main types of actions:

– 

– 

the first type, Actions 1 and 2, is aimed at supporting particular institutions or
selected associations active at European level in the field of education;

the  second  type,  Action  3,  is  aimed  at  supporting  particular  activities  or
projects focusing on European integration (Action 3A), or supporting European
Union policies  in the  fields  of  education  and  training  outside  the  Community
programmes  in  these  fields  (Action  3B),  or  promoting  training  in  European
law, notably for national judges (Action 3C).

2.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED

The  activities  carried  out  by  the  bodies  eligible  for  Community  funding  under  the
programme fall within one of the following areas:

Action 1: Support for specified institutions active in the field of education

Grants  may  be  awarded  under  this  action  of  the  programme  to  support  certain
operational and administrative costs of the following institutions pursuing an aim of
general European interest, acting in the following fields:

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

the College of Europe (Bruges and Natolin campuses) in post-graduate studies
in the European dimension of law, economics, political and social sciences and
the humanities;

the  European  University  Institute,  Florence,  in  its  contribution  to  the
development  of  Europe’s  cultural  and  scientific  heritage  by  higher  education
and research;

the European Institute of Public Administration, Maastricht, in  the  training of
national  and  European  officials 
their
responsibilities in the field of European integration;

to  discharge 

to  enable 

them 

the European Law Academy, Trier, in university-level continuing education for
European law practitioners and users;

the  European  Inter-University  Centre  for  Human  Rights  and  Democratisation
for  the  continuation  of  the  European  Masters  Degree  in  Human  Rights  and
Democratisation,  the  Advanced  Internship  Programme  and  other  education,
rights  and
training  and  research  activities 
democratisation;

in  promotion  of  human 

11

– 

– 

the  European  Agency  for  Development  in  Special  Needs  Education  in  the
improvement  of  the  quality  of  special  needs  education  and  the  institution  of
extensive and long-term European cooperation in this field;

the International Centre for European Training in study, education, training and
research on issues of European and world unification, federalism, regionalism
and  the  changing  structures  of  contemporary  society,  from  a  world  federalist
viewpoint.

The Commission may award grants to the institutions listed above upon receipt of an
appropriate workplan and budget. Grants may be awarded on an annual basis or on a
renewable basis within a framework partnership agreement with the Commission.

Grants  awarded  under  this  action  shall  not  be  subject  to  the  principle  of  gradual
reduction  set  out  in  Article  113(2)  of  the  Financial  Regulation  applicable  to  the
general budget of the European Communities.

The activities of the institutions supported under this action may take place within or
beyond the European Union.

The resources to be committed under Action 1 will be not more than 65 per cent and
not less than 58 per cent of the total budget available for this programme.

Action 2: Support for European associations active in the field of education or training

Grants  may  be  awarded  under  this  action  of  the  programme  to  support  certain
operational  and  administrative  costs  of  European  associations  active  in  the  field  of
education and training, which fulfil the following minimum criteria:

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

exist  as  a  body  pursuing  an  aim  of  general  European  interest  as  defined  in
article 162 of the implementing rules;

operate in the field of education and training at European level and pursue clear
and well-defined objectives laid down in their official articles of association;

have members in at least twelve Member States of the European Union;

be composed of national, regional or local associations;

be located and have legal status in one of the Member States of the European
Union;

undertake  the  majority  of  its  activity  in  the  Member  States  of  the  European
Union,  in  countries  belonging  to  the  European  Economic  Area  and/or  in  the
candidate countries.

Grants  will  be  awarded  under  this  action  following  the  selection  of  proposals
submitted in response to one or more published calls for proposals. The Community
grant will not cover more than 75 per cent of the eligible costs set out in an approved
workplan  for  the  association.  Grants  may  be  awarded  on  an  annual  basis  or  on  a
renewable basis within a framework partnership agreement with the Commission.

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Grants  awarded  under  this  action  shall  not  be  subject  to  the  principle  of  gradual
reduction  set  out  in  Article  113(2)  of  the  Financial  Regulation  applicable  to  the
general budget of the European Communities.

The resources to be committed under Action 2 will not be more than 4 per cent of the
total budget available for this programme.

Action 3A: Support for activities in the field of  higher education  concerning European
integration, including Jean Monnet chairs

This action relates to activities promoting the European Union’s action in the field of
higher  education,  raising  awareness  in  higher  education  circles  of  European
integration and  the  objectives  pursued  by  the  Union  in  its  international  relations  or
supporting Community action and relaying it at national level.

Activities supported under this action may take place in countries within or outside
the European Union.

In accordance with Article 2 of the Decision, this particularly relates to:

– 

– 

– 

– 

implementation of European integration studies in universities;

creation  and  support  of  national  associations  of  teachers  specialised  in
European integration;

promotion of reflection and discussion on the process of European integration;

promotion of academic research on EU priority subjects, such as the future of
Europe or dialogue between peoples and cultures, including research by young
academics.

Grants  will  be  awarded  under  this  action  following  the  selection  of  proposals
submitted in response to one or more published calls for proposals. The Community
grant will not cover more than 75 per cent of the eligible costs of activities selected
for funding under this action.

The resources  to  be  committed under  Action 3A will be not  more than 24 per  cent
and not less than 20 per cent of the total budget available for this programme.

Action 3B: Support for activities contributing to the achievement of the future objectives
of education and training systems in Europe

Action  3B  relates  to  support,  implementation,  awareness-raising  and  promotion
activities concerning the follow-up of the three objectives of education and training
systems in Europe agreed by the European Council for 201012:

– 

improving  the  quality  and  effectiveness  of  education  and  training  systems  in
the European Union;

12

Detailed  work  programme  on  the  follow-up  of  the  objectives  of  Education  and  training  systems  in
Europe (OJ C142, 14.6.2002, p.1).

13

                                                
– 

– 

facilitating the access of all to education and training systems;

opening up education and training systems to the wider world;

and  the  13  sub-objectives  associated  with  them.  These  activities  may  include
forward-looking  approaches  covering  the  period  up  to  2010  and  may  cover  both
intra-European aspects and aspects concerning Europe’s place in the world.

The types of activity to be supported under this action consist of the implementation
of  the  open  method  of  coordination  in  the  field  of  education  and  training,  notably
through peer review, exchange of good practice, exchange of information and setting
of indicators and benchmarks.

These activities are, in particular:

– 

– 

– 

– 

support  for  studies,  inquiries  and  research  linked  to  the  achievement  of  the
concrete future objectives;

meetings  of  experts,  seminars,  conferences  and  study  visits  supporting  the
implementation of the detailed work programme on the objectives;

preparation and execution of information activities and publications seeking to
raise  awareness  in  education  and  training  circles,  including  those  intended  to
promote the European Union’s action in these fields and to improve the quality,
universal accessibility and openness to the wider world of European education
and training systems;

various  activities  supporting  Community  action  by  involving  players  in  civil
society  operating  at  national  or  European  level  in  the  fields  of  education  and
training.

This action will be implemented by means of grants awarded following the selection
of proposals submitted in response to one or more calls for proposals.

Grants  may  be  awarded  to  institutions  based  in  one  of  the  Member  States  of  the
European  Union,  in  countries  belonging  to  the  European  Economic  Area,  or  in
candidate  countries.  For  activities  relating  to  the  third  objective  (opening  up  of
education  and  training  systems  to  the  wider  world),  grants  may  exceptionally  be
awarded to institutions based in other third countries.

The Community grant will not normally cover more than 75 per cent of the eligible
costs of selected proposals.

The resources  to be committed under Action 3B will be not  more  than  11  per  cent
and not less than 7 per cent of the total budget available for this programme.

Action 3C: Support for training of national judges in the field of European law and for
organisations for judicial cooperation

Grants  may  be  awarded  under  this  action  to  support  organisations  for  judicial
cooperation  and  actions  designed  to  promote  training  in  European  law,  notably  for
national judges.

14

Activities  supported  under  this  action  may  take  place  in  Member  States  of  the
European  Union,  in  countries  of  the  European  Economic  Area,  or  in  candidate
countries.

Grants  will  be  awarded  under  this  action  following  the  selection  of  proposals
submitted in response to one or more published calls for proposals. The Community
grant  will  not  normally  cover  more  than  75  per  cent  of  the  eligible  costs  of  the
activity set out in an approved workplan.

The resources to be committed under Action 3C will not be more than 4 per cent of
the total budget available for this programme.

3.

CRITERIA FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF FUNDING APPLICATIONS

Requests  for  grant  funding  submitted  in  response  to  a  call  for  proposals  will  be
assessed in respect of the following criteria:

– 

– 

– 

– 

relevance  to  the  objectives  of  the  programme  and  of  the  specific  action
concerned;

relevance to any priorities or other criteria set out in the call for proposals;

the quality of the proposal;

the  likely  impact  of  the  proposal  on  education  and/or  training  at  European
level.

4.

ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE

In determining the amount of a grant awarded under any action of this  programme,
the Commission may have recourse to flat-rate financing based  on published scales
of unit costs.

5.

MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME

In  the  light  of  a  cost/benefit  analysis,  the  Commission  may  decide  to  entrust  all  or
part of the tasks of managing the programme to an executive agency, in conformity
with  Article  55  of  the  Financial  Regulation  applicable  to  the  general  budget  of  the
European  Communities;  it  may  also  have  recourse  to  experts  and  incur  any  other
expenditure on technical and administrative assistance, not involving the exercise of
public  authority,  outsourced  under  ad  hoc  service  contracts.  It  may  also  finance
studies and organise meetings of experts likely to facilitate the implementation of the
programme,  and  undertake  information,  publication  and  dissemination  actions
directly linked to the achievement of the programme’s objective.

15

6.

6.1

6.2

6.3

6.4

6.5

CHECKS AND AUDITS

including 

The beneficiary of an operating grant shall keep available for the Commission all the
the  audited  financial  statement,  regarding
supporting  documents, 
expenditure  incurred  during  the  grant  year,  for  a  period  of  five  years  following  the
last  payment.  The  beneficiary  of  a  grant  shall  ensure  that,  where  applicable,
supporting documents in the possession of partners or members be made available to
the Commission.

The Commission may have an audit of the  use made of the grant carried  out  either
directly  by  its  own  staff  or  by  any  other  qualified  outside  body  of  its  choice.  Such
audits may be carried out throughout the lifetime of the agreement and for a period of
five  years  from  the  date  of  payment  of  the  balance.  Where  appropriate,  the  audit
findings may lead to recovery decisions by the Commission.

Commission  staff  and  outside  personnel  authorised  by  the  Commission  shall  have
appropriate  right  of  access,  in  particular  to  the  beneficiary’s  offices  and  to  all  the
information, including  information in electronic format, needed  in  order  to  conduct
such audits.

The Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) shall enjoy  the
same rights, especially of access, as the Commission.

In order to protect the European Communities’  financial interests against  fraud  and
other  irregularities,  the  Commission  may  carry  out  on-the-spot  checks  and
inspections under this programme in accordance with Council Regulation (Euratom,
EC)  No  2185/9613.  Where  necessary,  investigations  shall  be  conducted  by  the
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and these shall be governed by Regulation (EC)
No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council14.

13

14

OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.
OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 1.

16

                                                
FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy areas: 1. Education and culture, 2. Competition, 3. External relations

Activities:  1. Education,  2. Merger  control,  antitrust,  market  liberalisation  and  cartel
enforcement, 3. Human Rights and democratisation

TITLE OF ACTION

COMMUNITY  ACTION  PROGRAMME  TO  PROMOTE  BODIES  ACTIVE  AT  EUROPEAN  LEVEL  AND
SUPPORT SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

1.

BUDGET LINES + HEADINGS

15.02.01.02 (ex-A-3010) College of Europe

15.02.01.03 (ex-A-3011) European University Institute, Florence

15.02.01.04 (ex-A-3012) European Law Academy, Trier

15.02.01.05 (ex-A-3013) European Institute of Public Administration, Maastricht

15.02.01.06 (ex-A-3022) Study and research centres

15.02.01.07 (ex-A-3027) International Centre for European Training

15.02.01.08  (ex-A-3044)  European  Agency  for  Development  in  Special  Needs
Education

all  these  lines  pertaining  to  the  activity  “Education”  and  covered  by  heading  5  of  the
financial perspective up to 2006

19.04.01  (ex-A-3014)  European  Inter-University  Centre  for  Human  Rights  and
Democratisation; line pertaining to the activity “Human rights and democratisation” and
covered by heading 5 of the financial perspective up to 2006

15.02.01.01 (ex-B3-304) European integration in universities

15.02.02.01 (ex-B3-1000) Support of Community action in the field of education

15.01.04.11  (ex-B3-304A)  European  integration  in  universities  –  Expenditure  on
administrative management

15.01.04.01  (ex-B3-1000A)  Support  of  Community  action  in  the  field  of  education  –
Expenditure on administrative management

all  these  lines  pertaining  to  the  activity  “Education”  and  covered  by  heading  3  of  the
financial perspective up to 2006

17

03.03.01  (ex-A-3017)  Accompanying  measures  pertaining  to  the  reform  of  mergers,
antitrust,  market  liberalisation  and  cartel  enforcement;  line  pertaining  to  the  activity
“Merger control, antitrust, market liberalisation and cartel enforcement” and covered by
heading 3 of the financial perspective up to 2006.

2.

2.1

OVERALL FIGURES

Total  allocation  for  action  (Part  B):  commitment  appropriations  EUR 129.62
million

2.2

Period of application:

2004–2008

2.3

a)

Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure

Schedule of commitment appropriations/payment appropriations (financial intervention)
(see point 6.1.1)

EUR million (to the third decimal place)

Heading 5

Commitment
appropriations

Payment
appropriations 15

Heading 3

Commitment
appropriations

Payment
appropriations

2004

2005

2006

2006

2008

Total

2009
and
foll.
fin.
years

15.012

17.710

18.040

18.380

18.728

87.870

EUR million (to the third decimal place)

2004

2005

2006

2006

2008

Total

2009
and
foll.
fin.
years

7.550

7.550

7.550

7.550

7.550

37.750

6.040

7.550

7.550

7.550

7.550

1.510

37.750

15

Ces crédits seront gérés comme des crédits non dissociés.

18

                                                
b)

Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure (see point 6.1.2)

Heading 3

CA

PA

Heading 5

Subtotal a+b

CA

PA

Heading 3

Subtotal a+b

CA

PA

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

4.000

4.000

15.012

17.710

18.040

18.380

18.728

87.870

8.350

8.350

8.350

8.350

8.350

41.750

6.840

8.350

8.350

8.350

8.350

1.510

41.750

c)

Overall financial impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure
(see points 7.2 and 7.3)

CA/PA

1.728

1.728

1.728

1.728

1.728

8.640

TOTAL a+b+c

CA

PA

2.4

Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective

X

Proposal compatible with the existing financial programming

(cid:1) Proposal  will  entail  reprogramming  of  the  relevant  heading  in  the  financial

perspective.

(cid:1) This may entail application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement.

2.5

Financial impact on revenue

X

No financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of
a measure)

(cid:1) Proposal has financial impact – the effect on revenue is as follows:

19

3.

BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

Type of expenditure

New

EFTA
participation

Participation
applicant
countries

Heading
financial
perspective

Comp/
Non-comp

Diff/Non-
diff

Comp/
Non-comp

Diff/Non-
diff

YES/NO

YES/NO

YES/NO

N° 3

YES/NO

YES/NO

YES/NO

5

Note: the action is new in this form; however, it follows on from existing Community operations
which have existed in another form for several years and its main purpose is to provide a legal
basis  for  these  operations.  It  relates  to  the  old  headings  A-3010,  A-3011,  A-3012,  A-3013,
A-3014, A-3017, A-3022, A-3027, A-3044, B3-1000 and B3-304.

4.

LEGAL BASIS

Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council, adopted by the
Commission on ...

5.

5.1

DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

Need for Community intervention

5.1.1

Objectives pursued

The  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community  provides  that  the  latter  shall
contribute to the development of quality education by supporting and supplementing the
action  of  Member  States,  while  fully  respecting  their  responsibility  for  the  content  of
teaching  and  the  organisation  of  education  systems  and  their  cultural  and  linguistic
diversity,  shall  implement  a  vocational  training  policy  which  shall  support  and
supplement the action of the Member States, while fully respecting their responsibility
for the content and organisation of vocational training, and shall foster cooperation with
third  countries:  the  detailed  work  programme  on  the  follow-up  of  the  objectives  of
education and training systems in Europe adopted by the Council on 14 June 2002 sets
out  a  programme  of  activity  that  requires  support  at  Community  level.  The  Laeken
Declaration annexed to the conclusions of the European Council of 14 and 15 December
2001 asserts that one of the basic challenges to be resolved by the European Union is to
bring  citizens  closer  to  the  European  design  and  the  European  institutions.  In  this
context, promotion of  European  cooperation in the relevant circles seems  necessary to
supplement  the  operations  financed  under  the  Socrates  and  Leonardo  da  Vinci
Community programmes in the field of education and training.

The Community budget is in fact already providing support for institutions of European
interest under headings in Part A of the budget. This support has been provided without
any  legal  basis,  under  budgetary  headings  entered  in  the  Commission’s  administrative
expenditure. The introduction, as from 2004, of a budgetary nomenclature in accordance
with  ABB  principles  makes  it  necessary  to  provide  a  proper  legal  basis  for  these

20

operations,  as  agreed  by  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission
when the new Financial Regulation was adopted.

In recent years, the Community budget has also made it possible to provide support for
the  follow-up  of  the  future  objectives  of  the  education  and  training  systems  under
heading B3-1000, which financed preparatory measures in the field of education, and for
operations  under  the  Jean  Monnet  Project,  financed  under  Article  B3-304.  These  two
actions had no legal basis.

This  proposal,  which  is  primarily  informed  by  technical  considerations,  thus  seeks  to
place on a solid legal footing grants hitherto awarded without a legal basis, comprising:

– 

operating  grants  to  a  number  of  bodies  active  in  the  field  of  education  and
training;

– 

grants for actions in this field.

5.1.2 Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluation

This  proposal  essentially  addresses  the  technical  need  to  provide  a  legal  basis  for
operating  grants  which  have  traditionally  been  paid  in  this  area  under  Part  A  of  the
budget, so following up the joint statement made by the three institutions when the new
Financial Regulation was adopted.

5.2

Actions envisaged and budget intervention arrangements

The  proposal  is  aimed  at  supporting  two  types  of  operation:  grants  to  co-finance  the
operating  costs  of  a  number  of  bodies  active  in  the  field  of  education  and  training;
grants  to  support  actions  contributing  to  achieving  the  Union’s  education  and  training
objectives.

The  operating  grants  are  available  to  various  educational  institutions:  the  College  of
Europe, Bruges, and its Polish campus at Natolin, which from mid-2004 will no longer
be  funded  under  Phare,  the  European  University  Institute,  Florence,  the  European
Institute  of  Public  Administration,  Maastricht,  the  European  Law  Academy,  Trier,  the
International Centre for European Training and the European Agency for Development
in Special Needs Education, which fall within the policy area “Education and culture”;
they  are  also  available  to  the  European  Inter-University  Centre  for  Human  Rights  and
Democratisation,  which  falls  within  the  policy  area  “External  relations”,  for  the
continuation  of  the  European  Masters  Degree  in  Human  Rights  and  Democratisation,
the  Advanced  Internship  Programme  and  other  education,  training  and  research
activities in promotion of human rights and democratisation.

Operating  grants  may  also  be  awarded  to  European  associations  active  in  the  field  of
education  and  training  which  satisfy  certain  criteria,  in  particular  representativeness  at
European  level;  the  Commission  considers  it  appropriate  that,  alongside  the  Socrates
and Leonardo da Vinci programmes, there should be a budgetary instrument making it
possible  to  support  the  operation  of  bodies  representative  of  the  stakeholders  in  this
policy area.

Support for individual actions is aimed at promoting the European Union’s action in the
field  of  higher  education,  raising  awareness  in  higher  education  circles  of  European
integration  and  the  objectives  pursued  by  the  Union  in  its  international  relations  or

21

supporting Community action and relaying it at national level. These operations mainly
concern  implementation  of  European  integration  studies  in  universities,  creation  and
support  of  national  associations  of  teachers  specialised  in  European  integration,
promotion  of  reflection  and  discussion  on  the  process  of  European  integration  and
promotion of academic research on EU priority subjects, such as the future of Europe or
dialogue between peoples and cultures, including research by young academics.

The programme is also intended to make it possible to finance support, implementation,
awareness-raising and promotion actions concerning the follow-up of the objectives of
education  and  training  systems  in  Europe  agreed  by  the  Lisbon  European  Council  in
2000,  and  the  associated  sub-objectives.  These  actions  may  include  forward-looking
approaches covering the period up to 2010 and may cover both intra-European aspects
and aspects concerning Europe’s place in the world.

Grants may also be awarded to support training in European law, especially for national
judges.

5.3

Implementation arrangements

A feasibility study is in hand on the establishment of an executive agency to assist the
Commission  in  the  field  of  education  and  culture.  If,  in  the  light  of  a  cost/benefit
analysis, the Commission decides to set up such an agency, it may be involved in some
of the tasks of managing the programme, in conformity with Article 55 of the Financial
Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

This possibility is being considered at the general policy level; this is the level at which
an  appraisal  will  be  made  of  the  implications  of  such  an  approach  for  the  resources
required to manage the programme within the Commission. At this stage, the working
hypothesis is that this programme will contribute to the operating costs of the executive
agency envisaged (by means of the administrative expenditure line associated with the
budgetary heading for the programme).

6.

6.1

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Total financial impact on Part B (over the entire programming period)

6.1.1

Financial intervention

Commitments in EUR million (to the third decimal place)

Breakdown

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Part 1– heading 5

13.512

16.180

16.480

16.790

17.108

Part 2– heading 3

0.750

0.750

0.750

0.750

0.750

Part 3.a– heading 5

1.500

1.530

1.560

1.590

1.620

Part 3.a– heading 3

3.800

3.800

3.800

3.800

3.800

Part 3.b– heading 3

2.200

2.200

2.200

2.200

2.200

Part 3.c– heading 3

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

Total

80.070

3.750

7.800

19.000

11.000

4.000

TOTAL

22.562

25.260

25.590

25.930

26.278

125.620

22

6.1.2

Technical  and  administrative  assistance,  support  expenditure  and  IT  expenditure
(commitment appropriations)

2004

2005

2006

Total

1)Technical and
administrative assistance:
a)Technical assistance
offices:

b) Other technical and
administrative assistance:
- intra-muros:
- extra-muros:
of  which  for  construction
and 
of
maintenance 
computerised  management
systems:

Subtotal 1

2) Support expenditure:

a) Studies

b) Meetings of experts

c) Information and
publications

Subtotal 2

0.300

3) Contribution to an
executive agency

Subtotal 3

0.300

0.500

0.300

0.500

0.300

0.500

0.300

0.500

1.500

2.000

TOTAL

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

0.800

4.000

6.2.

Calculation of costs by measure envisaged in Part B (over the entire programming
period)

Breakdown

Part 1
Institutions
Part 2
Associations
Part 3

TOTAL COST

Commitments in EUR million (to the third decimal place)

Type
of outputs
(projects, files,
etc. )
1

Number of
outputs
(total for years
1…n)
2

Average unit
cost

Total cost
(total for years
1…n)

3

4=(2X3)

Op. grants

Op. grants
Action grants

40

50

2.002

0.075

80.070

3.750
41.800

125.620

23

The amount proposed takes account of the budgetary constraints, in particular those applying to
heading 5, which will be the main source of funding.

In this context, it has been assumed as a general rule that grants to the bodies designated in the
Decision  establishing  the  programme  (part  1)  will  increase  by  2  per  cent  per  year,  save  for
exceptional cases justified by the Commission’s wish to develop its cooperation with certain of
these bodies.

In the case of the Natolin campus of the College of Europe, account has also been taken of the
need to replace the funding previously provided under Phare.

The estimated level of expenditure on administrative support for the programme is not affected
by  uncertainty  as  to  the  date  on  which  the  proposed  executive  agency  for  assistance  to  the
Commission in managing the education and culture programmes will become operational: if the
agency  were  used,  it  would  replace  the  temporary  technical  assistance  office  currently  used  to
help manage the Jean Monnet Project.

7.

IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

Human  resource  and  administrative  needs  will  be  covered  by  the  managing  DG’s
allocation under the annual allocation procedure.

7.1.

Impact on human resources

These are existing resources.

Type of job

Staff to be assigned to management of the
measure, using existing and/or additional
resources

Number of
permanent posts

Number of
temporary posts

Permanent
officials or
temporary staff
Other human
resources
Total

A
B
C

8
3
5

16

Description of tasks
deriving from the measure

If necessary, a fuller description of the
tasks may be annexed.

Total

8
3
5

16

7.2

Overall financial impact of human resources

Type of human resources

Amounts EUR

Method of calculation *

Officials
Temporary agents

Other human resources

1 728 000

16 x EUR 108 000

(indicate budget heading)

Total

1 728 000

The amounts represent total expenditure for 12 months.

24

7.3

Other administrative expenditure deriving from the measure

Amounts EUR

Method of calculation

Budget heading
(number and heading)

Overall allocation (Title A7)
A0701 – Missions
A07030 – Meetings
A07031 – Compulsory committees (1)
A07032 – Non-compulsory committees (1)
A07040 – Conferences
A0705 – Studies and consultations
… Other expenditure (please specify)

Information systems (A-5001/A-4300)

Other expenditure - Part A (please specify)

Total

The amounts represent total expenditure for 12 months.

(1) Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs.

I.
II.
III.

Annual total (7.2 + 7.3)
Duration of action
Total cost of the measure (I x II)

EUR 1 728 000
5 years
EUR 8 640 000

8.

8.1

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Monitoring arrangements

Article 7 of the Decision lays down the arrangements for evaluation of the programme
(interim evaluation, before any decision on renewal of the programme; final evaluation).

8.2

Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

No later than 31 December 2007, the Commission will submit a report to the European
Parliament and the Council on the achievement of the programme’s objectives and will,
if appropriate, make proposals for any adjustment to be made with a view to continuing
or  not  continuing  the  programme.  This  report  will  be  based  on  an  external  evaluation
report which must be available by the end of 2006 and will appraise at least the overall
relevance  and  coherence  of  the  programme,  its  practical  effectiveness  (in  terms  of
preparation, selection and implementation of the actions), and the overall and individual
effectiveness  of  the  various  actions  (in  terms  of  achieving  the  objectives  set  out  in
Article 1 and in the Annex).

The European Parliament and the Council, in accordance with the Treaty, will decide on
the continuation of the programme as from 1 January 2009. Before presenting proposals
to  this  end,  the  Commission  will  have  an  updated  external  evaluation  made  of  the
programme and will bear the results in mind in its proposals.

No  later  than  31 December  2009,  the  Commission  will  present  to  the  European
Parliament and the Council a report on the achievement of the programme’s objectives.
This report will be based on the results of the external appraisal and will look into the
results  obtained  by  the  beneficiaries,  more  especially  from  the  point  of  view  of  the

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effectiveness and  efficiency  of  the  various  actions  (in  overall  and  individual  terms)  in
achieving the objectives set out in Article 1 and in the Annex.

9.

FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES

All  contracts,  agreements  and  legal  undertakings  entered  into  by  the  Commission  and
the beneficiaries provide for checks to be carried out by the Commission or the Court of
Auditors on the premises of a direct beneficiary of a Community grant, and for evidence
to  be  required  of  any  expenditure  under  such  contracts,  agreements  and  legal
undertakings, during the five years after the end of the contract period. Beneficiaries are
required  to  submit  financial  reports  and  accounts,  which  are  analysed  for  content  and
eligibility of expenditure in the light of the objective of Community funding, bearing in
mind  the  contractual  obligations  and  the  principles  of  economy  and  sound  financial
management.

Attached  to  the  financial  agreements  are  administrative  and  financial  information
intended  inter alia  to  specify  expenditure  which  is  eligible  under  these  agreements.
Where  appropriate,  Community  coverage  of  certain  cost  elements  will  be  limited  to
items  which  are  real,  identifiable  and  verifiable  in  the  beneficiary’s  book-keeping
arrangements,  so  as  to  facilitate  checking  and  auditing  (and  evaluation  for  selection
purposes) of projects in receipt of funding.

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