Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendment to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme to make digital content in Europe more accessible, usable and exploitable amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty
Date: 2005-02-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, Internet, access to information, dissemination of information, information technology, innovation

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 21.2.2005 
COM(2005) 70 final 

2004/0025 (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 

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

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT  
AND OF THE COUNCIL 

establishing a multiannual Community programme to make digital content in Europe 
more accessible, usable and exploitable  

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

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2004/0025 (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 

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

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT  
AND OF THE COUNCIL 

establishing a multiannual Community programme to make digital content in Europe 
more accessible, usable and exploitable  

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

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

2. 

BACKGROUND 

Date of transmission of the proposal to the EP and the Council 
(document COM(2004) 96 final– 2004/0025 COD): 

13 February 2004. 

Date  of  the  opinion  of  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee: 

29 April 2004. 

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

22 April 2004. 

Date of transmission of the amended proposal: 

30 April 2004. 

Date of adoption of the Council’s common position: 

24 September 2004. 

Date  of  adoption  of  the  Commission  opinion  on  the  Council’s 
common position 

8 October 2004. 

3. 

PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL 

The  proposed  programme  aims  at  improving  the  conditions  for  reuse  of  European  digital 
content. It targets sectors of the digital content market where development has been slow and 
market  forces  alone  have  not  been  enough  to  secure  optimal  results  in  terms  of  economic 
growth,  job  creation,  innovation  and  consumer  choice.  These  sectors  include  public  sector 
information – in particular geographic data, and educational material and cultural content.  

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4. 

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON  THE  AMENDMENT  BY  THE  EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT 

On  27  January  2005  the  European  Parliament  adopted  one  amendment  to  the  Council’s 
common position on a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a 
multiannual  Community  programme  to  make  digital  content  in  Europe  more  accessible, 
usable and exploitable. The Commission can accept the European Parliament amendment. 

4.1. 

Amendments accepted by the Commission 

•  Amendment  1  (Article  6,  paragraph  1):  the  Parliament  proposes  to  set  the  financial 

framework for the implementation of the programme to EUR 149 million. 

5. 

CONCLUSION 

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

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