Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 251 (2) of the EC Treaty concerning the common position of the Council on the adoption of a Decision establishing the Culture 2007 programme (2007-2013)
Date: 2006-09-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Council of the European Union, European Commission, action programme, cultural cooperation, cultural policy, interinstitutional relations (EU)

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 1.9.2006 
COM(2006) 476 final 

2004/0150 (COD) 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 251 (2) of the EC Treaty 

concerning the 

common position of the Council on the adoption of a Decision establishing the Culture 
2007 programme (2007-2013) 

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2004/0150 (COD) 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 251 (2) of the EC Treaty 

concerning the 

common position of the Council on the adoption of a Decision establishing the Culture 
2007 programme (2007-2013) 

1. 

BACKGROUND 

Date of transmission of the proposal to the EP and the Council 
(document COM(2004) 469 final – 2004/0150(COD)): 

14 July 2004 

Date of the opinion of the European Committee of the Regions: 

23 February 2005 

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

25 October 2005 

Date of the political agreement  

Date of adoption of the common position: 

18 May 2006 

18 July 2006 

2. 

OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL 

The purpose of the Commission’s proposal is to establish a programme which can contribute 
to  the  flourishing  of  shared  European  cultural  values  on  the  basis  of  cultural  co-operation 
between artists, cultural operators and cultural institutions. It will seek to promote multilateral 
cooperation within Europe as well as contribute to the bottom-up development of a European 
identity, thanks to interactions between citizens. 

In comparison with the programmes that preceded it, the proposed programme goes further in 
the reinforcement of cultural cooperation by focussing the EU action on three main objectives 
which  have  been  identified  as  having  strong  European  added  value:  the  trans-national 
mobility of people working in the cultural sector, the trans-national circulation of works of art 
as well as of artistic and cultural products and intercultural dialogue.  

It consists of three strands: i) direct support for cultural co-operation projects, ii) support for 
European  cultural  co-operation  organisations  and  iii)  support  for  studies  and  for  collecting 
and disseminating information in the field of cultural co-operation. 

3. 

COMMENTS ON THE COMMON POSITION 

The common position was adopted on 18 July 2006 by unanimity. The Commission is of the 
opinion  that  it  is  a  compromise  which  fulfils  most  of  the  objectives  of  the  amended 
Commission proposal, which, in turn, accepted a large number of the European Parliament’s 

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amendments. All the EP amendments that the Commission could in full, in part or in principle 
accept have been integrated into the common position of the Council, in some cases subject to 
some rewording, i.e. amendments 1, 4, 7, 11, 15, 20, 23, 27, 33, 41, 43, 51, 52, 10, 14, 53, 55, 
56, 59, 6, 8, 16, 26, 19, 24, 38, 42 and 62. Moreover, amendments 2, 3 and 13 (for which the 
Commission had a reserved position) as well as amendments 34, 47 and 49 are also included 
in the common position. 

However, the Commission cannot support the common position with regard to two issues: the 
budgetary breakdown and the broadening of the comitology procedure to individual decisions 
on selection. 

The  Council  decided  to  modify  the  Commission’s  indicative  budgetary  breakdown,  so  that 
32%  of  the  programme  budget  could  be  dedicated  to  multiannual  projects  (strand  1.1  of 
programme), instead of 36 % in the Commission proposal, and 29% of the programme budget 
would be dedicated to cooperation measures (strand 1.2 of programme) instead of 24% in the 
Commission  proposal.  According  to  the  Commission,  its  initial  proposal  enabled  real 
structured  European-wide  cooperation  to  take  place  and  thereby  provided  more  visibility  to 
sustainable long term projects and, as a consequence, to the programme. The initial emphasis 
on  multi-annual  projects  should  not  be  seen  as  an  emphasis  on  big  operators  versus  small 
operators;  the  aim  was  to  encourage  all  the  operators  -  whatever  their  scale  -  to  participate 
within  ambitious cooperation  projects.  The Commission  also  deems it  necessary to dedicate 
17% of the budget (as opposed to 16% in the common position) to special actions (strand 1.3 
of programme) as this strand aims to strike a significant chord with the peoples of Europe and 
help  them  to  increase  their  sense  of  belonging  to  the  same  community,  which  is  highly 
instrumental towards the emergence of a European citizenship.  

The Council decided to extend the comitology procedure to decisions on projects selection for 
grants  over  €200.000  (new  Article  8.2d).  This  extension  would  imply,  without  a  real  added 
value, a longer internal decision-making procedure on the implementation of the programme. 

The Commission also notes that the equivalent of the financial envelope of EUR 354 million 
in 2004 prices referred to in the Council common position (Article 2) is EUR 400 million in 
current prices. 

4. 

CONCLUSION 

The Commission considers that the common position adopted on 18 July 2006 by unanimity 
represents to a large extent a significant step forward in improving the clarity of the Decision 
and  enhancing  its  provisions  in  line  with  the  objectives  to  be  achieved  as  set  out  by  the 
Commission’s  proposal.  However,  the  Commission  rejects  two  of  its  aspects  regarding  the 
budgetary  split  as  well  as  the  comitology  (see  statement  annexed  herewith)  and  therefore 
cannot accept it. 

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ANNEX  

Commission statement on Article 8 

The  Commission  regrets  the  wish  of  the  Council  to  introduce  into  the  “Culture  2007” 
Programme  Decision  a  comitology  procedure  for  individual  activity  selection  decisions,  in 
addition to the comitology procedure envisaged in the Commission’s original proposal for the 
selection procedure itself. The Commission notes that this would increase the time applicants 
have to wait for a decision on their proposals by 2 to 3 months, compared with the original 
proposal, which runs counter to the principle of simplification and user-friendliness espoused 
by the Commission, Council and European Parliament at the start of the legislative process. 
The  Commission  also  notes  that  the  European  Parliament,  in  its  First  Reading  opinion,  was 
not in favour of subjecting individual selection decisions to a comitology procedure. 

In implementing the Culture Programme, the Commission undertakes to inform the Council 
and  the  European  Parliament  without  delay  of  all  activity  selection  decisions  that  are  taken 
without recourse to a comitology procedure. 

The  Commission  furthermore  undertakes  to  continue  to  seek  ways  to  shorten  the  selection 
timetable through increases in administrative efficiency, in particular through use of the new 
Executive Agency for the implementation of the programme. It notes, however, that the scale 
of  any  such  time-savings  is  substantially  smaller  than  the  2  to  3  months  that  are  at  stake  if 
recourse is made to a comitology procedure for individual selection decisions. 

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

Policy area(s): 

Education and culture 

Activit(y/ies): 

Culture et Langues 

TITLE OF ACTION:  CULTURE PROGRAMME 

1. 

BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S) HEADING 3B 

15 04 44 - Culture 2007 

15 01 04 44 – Culture 2007 – Expenditure on administrative management 

15 01 04 31 –Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture – Subsidy 
for programmes of Heading 3b 

2. 

OVERALL FIGURES  

2.1. 

Total allocation for action : € 400,000 million  

2.2. 

Period of application: 

2007-2013 

2.3. 

Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure: 

(a) 

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

(financial 

Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place) 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013* 

Total

Commitments 

Payments 

43,592 

44,804 

51,612 

53,636 

56,764 

58,236 

59,356 

368,000 

16,750 

35,574 

41,605 

46,729 

49,343 

52,531 

125,468 

368,000 

* 2013 et seq for payments 

(b) 

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

Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place) 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013* 

Total

Commitments 

4,208 

3,989 

4,071 

4,528 

4,750 

5,109 

5,345 

32,000

Payments 

4,208 

3,989 

4,071 

4,528 

4,75 

5,105 

5,344 

32,000

* 2013 et seq for payments 

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Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place) 

Subtotal a + b 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013* 

Total

Commitments 

Payments 

47,800 

48,793 

55,683 

58,164 

 61,514 

 63,345 

 64,701 

400,00 

20,958 

39,563 

45,676 

51,257 

54,093 

57,636 

130,812 

400,00 

* 2013 et seq for payments 

(c) 

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

Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place)  

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Total 

Commitments
/ payments 

TOTAL 
a+b+c 

2,239 

2,239 

2,239 

2,240 

2,240 

2,240 

2,241 

15,678 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013* 

Total 

Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place) 

Commitments 

50,039 

51,032 

57,922 

60,404 

63,754 

65,585 

66,942 

Payments 

23,197 

41,802 

47,915 

53,497 

56,333 

59,876 

133,053 

415,678 

415,678 

* 2013 et seq for payments 

2.4. 

Compatibility with financial programming and financial framework 

[X]  Proposal  is  compatible  with  Annex  I  of  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  on 
budgetary  discipline  and  sound  financial  management  on  the  financial 
framework  2007-2013  (JO  C139  of  14  June  2006)  and  document  V  of  the 
Commission  on  financial  programming  2007-2013  (SEC(2006)  625  of  May 
2006) 

2.5. 

Financial impact on revenue: 

[X]  Proposal  has  no  financial  implications  (involves  technical  aspects  regarding 

implementation of a measure) 

3. 

BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS 

Type of expenditure 

New 

EFTA 
contribution 

Contributions 
form applicant 
countries 

Heading in 
financial 
framework 

Non-comp 

Diff 

NO 

YES 

YES 

3b 

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4. 

LEGAL BASIS  

Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 151  

5. 

DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS 

See initial proposal. 

6. 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

6.1. 

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

6.1.1.  Financial intervention 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Total

Commitments (cash prices) 

Strand 1 –
Support for 
projects 

-Multi-annual 
cooperation 
projects 

-Cooperation 
measures 

-Special 
Actions 

Strand 2 – 
Support to 
European 
Bodies active 
in the field of 
Culture 

Strand 3 – 
Analysis and 
Information 

36,422 

37,499 

43,197 

44,891 

47,509 

48,741 

49,741 

308,000

16,824 

17,532 

20,196 

20,988 

22,212 

22,788 

23,460 

144,000

11,472 

11,688 

13,464 

13,992 

14,808 

15,192 

15,384 

96,000

8,126 

8,279 

9,537 

9,911 

10,489 

10,761 

10,897 

68,000

4,780 

4,870 

5,610 

5,830 

6,170 

6,330 

6,410 

40,000

2,390 

2,435 

2,805 

2,915 

3,085 

3,165 

3,205 

20,000

TOTAL 

43,592 

44,804 

51,612 

53,636 

56,764 

58,236 

59,356 

368,000

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6.1.2.  Technical  and  administrative  assistance,  support  expenditure  and  IT  expenditure 

(commitment appropriations) 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Total 

Commitments (cash prices) 

1) Technical and administrative assistance 

3,692 

3,484 

3,556 

4,001 

4,213 

4,560 

4,785 

28,288 

0,171 

0,167 

0,171 

0,175 

0,178 

0,182 

0,186 

1,231 

0,029 

0,029 

0,029 

0,030 

0,030 

0,031 

0,031 

0,209 

a)  Executive 
Agency 

b) Other TAA: 

- intra muros: 

- extra muros: 

Symmetry 

Audits 

Other informatics 
assistance 

Experts – project 
evaluations 

Subtotal 1 

3,892 

3,680 

3,756 

4,206 

4,421 

4,773 

5,002 

29,726 

2) Support expenditure 

a) Studies 

b) Meetings of 
experts 

c) Information and 
publications 

d)  Other 

Subtotal 2 

TOTAL 

0,104 

0,106 

0,108 

0,110 

0,113 

0,115 

0,118 

0,774 

0,061 

0,062 

0,063 

0,064 

0,065 

0,067 

0,068 

0,450 

0,151 

0,142 

0,145 

0,148 

0,151 

0,154 

0,157 

1,048 

0,316 

0,309 

0,315 

0,322 

0,329 

0,336 

0,342 

2,271 

4,208 

3,989 

4,071 

4,528 

4,75 

5,109 

5,344

32,000 

Ces dépenses incluent la contribution du programme aux frais de fonctionnement de l'agence 
exécutive Education et culture, notamment les frais de personnel qui seront exposés par cette 
agence  au  titre  de  ce  programme.  Ces  dépenses  de  personnel  correspondent  à  une 
augmentation  des  effectifs  au  cours  de  la  période  résultant  de  l'augmentation  des  volumes 
d'activité qui seront confiés à l'agence, du fait de la croissance des budgets alloués aux volets 
dont la gestion lui sera déléguée.  

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6.2. 

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

Commitments (cash prices) 

Breakdown  

Type  
of outputs 
(projects, files ) 

Number of 
outputs 

Average 
unit cost 

(total for years 
2007-2013)  

Total cost 

(total for years 
2007-2013)  

Strand  1-  Support 
projects 
Multiannual cooperation projects 

for 

Cooperation measures 

Special Actions 

2-Support 

Strand 
to 
European  Bodies  active  in 
the field of culture 

Strand  3  –  Analysis  and 
Information 

Subsidy/Grant 
to projects 
Subsidy /Grant 
to projects 
Subsidy/Grant 
to projects 
Subsidy for the 
functioning 
costs of 
Organisations 

79 

857 

393 

268 

1,826 

0,112 

0,173 

0,149 

308,000 

144,000 

96,000 

68,000 

40,000 

20,000 

Subsidy/Grant 
to projects 

57 

0,143 

8,200 

Market 
contracts: 

Studies, 

- 
collection, 
diffusion, 
exploitation  of 
information  and 
results 

17 

0,200 

3,400 

Cultural Contact 
Points 

189 

0,044  

8,400 

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Management of the 
programme 

TOTAL COST 

Technical and 
administrative 
assistance 
(ATA)and 
support 
expenditure 
(DDA) 

32,000 

400,00 

7. 

IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE  

7.1. 

Impact on human resources 

L'estimation  des  dépenses  relevant  de  ce  point  7  est  une  estimation  moyenne  sur  la  période 
2007-2013.  Il  est  envisagé  d’augmenter  les  ressources  humaines  actuellement  affectées  à  la 
gestion  du  programme  Culture  2000  afin  de  prendre  en  compte  l’évolution  des  crédits 
opérationnels affectés au programme; ces ressources humaines passeraient de 16 hommes/ans 
en 2007 à 20 hommes/ans en 2013 (pour 2013, les chiffres figurent entre parenthèses dans le 
tableau ci-dessous)  

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

Description of tasks deriving from 
the action 

Types of post 

Number of 
permanent posts 

Number of 
temporary posts 

Total 

2007 (2013) 

2007(2013) 

Officials 
temporary staff 

or 

A 

4 (5) 

B 

C 

3 (5) 

6 (7) 

Other human resources 

DNE/AUX 

Total 

13 (17) 

  4 (5) 

Implementation of programme 

3 (5) 

6 (7) 

  1 

2 

  16 (20) 

Support Staff 

National Experts (END) 

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7.2. 

Overall financial impact of human resources – 2004 prices 

Type of human resources 

Amount (€ million) 
2007(2013) 

Method of calculation 

Officials 

Temporary staff 

1.404.000 

13* 108.000 

(1.836.000) 

17* 108.000 

Other human resources 

108.000 

1* 108.000 Support Staff 

(specify budget line) 

90.000 

2* 45.000 National Experts (END) 

Total 

1.602.000 

(2.034.000) 

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months. 

7.3. 

Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action – 2004 prices 

Budget line 

(number and heading) 

Overall allocation (Title A7) 

A0701 – Missions 

A07030 – Meetings 

A07031 – Compulsory committees 1 

A07032 – Non-compulsory committees 

A07040 – Conferences 

A0705 – Studies and consultations 

Other expenditure (specify) 

Information systems (A-5001/A-4300) 

Other expenditure - Part A (specify) 

Amount € million 

2007(2013) 

Method of calculation 

41.250  5 pers.*10 missions* € 825 (average) 

116.000  2 meet.*50 pers.* (€ 860 + 2*(€ 150) 

64.500  3 meet.*25 pers. *€ 860+2* (€ 150) 

200.000 

Total 

421.750 

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months. 

I. 

II. 

Annual total (7.2 + 7.3) 

Duration of action 

III. 

Total cost of action (I x II) 

€ 2.239.750 

7 years 

€ 15.678.250 

The needs for human and administrative resources shall be covered within the allocation 
granted to the managing DG in the framework of the annual allocation procedure.  

8. 

FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION 

See initial proposal. 

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9. 

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES 

See initial proposal. 

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