Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a programme of Community action to promote organisations active at European level in the area of culture amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty
Date: 2004-03-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU action, EU aid, EU programme, cultural policy, culture, financial aid

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 23.3.2004 
COM(2004) 211 final 

2003/0115 (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, 
on the European Parliament's amendments 
to the Council's common position regarding the  
proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT  
AND OF THE COUNCIL 

establishing a programme of Community action to promote organisations active at 
European level in the area of culture 

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION 
pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
 
2003/0115 (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, 
on the European Parliament's amendments 
to the Council's common position regarding the  
proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT  
AND OF THE COUNCIL 

establishing a programme of Community action to promote organisations active at 
European level in the area of culture 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty provides that the Commission 
shall deliver an opinion on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament at second 
reading.  The  Commission  sets  out  below  its  opinion  on  the  5  amendments  proposed  by 
Parliament. 

2. 

BACKGROUND 

Date of transmission of the Commission proposal to the European 
Parliament and the Council  
(document COM (2003) 275 final – 2003/0115 COD) 

5 June 2003 

Date of the opinion of the Committee of the Regions 

renounced 

Date of the opinion of the European Parliament at first reading: 

6 November 2003. 

Date of transmission of the amended proposal: 

12 November 2003. 

Date of political agreement in Council (unanimity) 

24 November 2003. 

Date of adoption of the common position: 

22 December 2003. 

Date  of  adoption  of  the  European  Parliament's  amendments  at 
second reading  

10 March 2004. 

3. 

PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL 

Based  on  Article  151  of  the  EC  Treaty,  this  Decision  is  intended,  following  the 
implementation  of  the  new  Financial  Regulation  applicable  to  the  budget  of  the  European 
Communities, to establish a basic act for awarding grants to promote organisations active at 
European level and support specific activities in the area of culture.  

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This programme will cover certain former budget lines in Part A, Chapter 30 of the budget, 
particularly those aimed at supporting the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages and 
Mercator,  protecting  the  sites  of  Nazi  concentration  camps  as  historical  monuments,  and 
awarding grants to organisations of European cultural interest.  

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON  THE  EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT'S 

4. 
AMENDMENTS  

Total number of amendments: 5 

Amendments accepted in full: 5 

The Commission accepts three amendments of a formal nature (amendments 1 to 3) designed 
to make the text consistent with the extension of the budget earmarking system until 2005.  

The Commission also accepts two technical amendments (amendments 4 and 5) which seek to 
introduce  two  derogations  from  Article  112  (2)  of  the  Financial  Regulation1  so  as  to  take 
account of the entry into force of this new programme from 2004. 

5. 

CONCLUSION 

Pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission amends its proposal as set out 
above. 

1 

Council  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  1605/2002  of  25  June  2002  on  the  Financial  Regulation 
applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (OJ L248, 16.09.2002) 

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