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 “Europe for citizens” programme (2007-2013)
Date: 2006-09-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, European citizenship, economic and social cohesion

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 26.9.2006 
COM(2006) 542 final 

2005/0041 (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 “Europe 
for citizens” programme (2007-2013) 

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2005/0041 (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 “Europe 
for citizens” programme (2007-2013) 

1. 

BACKGROUND 

Date of transmission of the proposal to the EP and the Council 
(document COM(2005)116 final – 2005/0041 (COD): 

14 April 2005 

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

26 October 2005 

Date of the opinion of the Committee of the Regions: 

17 November 2005 

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

5 April 2006 

Date of the political agreement: 

18 May 2006 

Date of adoption of the common position: 

25 September 2006 

2. 

OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL 

The proposed programme is a contribution to addressing a major challenge of the European 
Union, namely how to bridge the gap between citizens and the European Union. It ensures the 
continuity  of  the  Civic  participation  programme  established  for  the  period  2004-2006  and 
opens the way to new activities, providing a degree of flexibility in order to be able to adapt to 
future developments.  

The  “Europe  for  citizens”  programme  will  provide  the  Union  with  instruments  to  promote 
active European citizenship. It puts citizens in the centre and offers them the opportunity to 
fully  assume  their  responsibility  as  European  citizens.  It  responds  to  the  need  to  improve 
citizens participation in the construction of Europe and will encourage  cooperation between 
citizens  and  their  organisations  from  different  countries  in  order  to  meet,  act  together  and 
develop  their  own  ideas  in  a  European  environment  which  goes  beyond  a  national  vision, 
respecting their diversity.  

It  addresses  the  complex  issue  of  active  European  citizenship  through  different  and 
complementary angles, reflected in four different actions. The first action, "Active citizens for 
Europe"  involves  citizens  directly,  either  through  activities  linked  to  town-twinning  or 
through other kinds of citizens’ projects. The second action, "Active civil society for Europe" 
is targeted to civil society organisations at European level, receiving either structural support 

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on the basis of their work programme or support to trans-national projects. The third action 
"Together  for  Europe"  supports  high  visibility  events,  studies  and  information  tools, 
addressing the widest possible audience across frontiers and making Europe more tangible for 
its  citizens.  The  last  action,  “Active  European  Remembrance”,  aims  at  preserving  the  sites 
and  archives  associated  with  the  deportations  as  well  as  at  commemorating  the  victims  of 
Nazism and Stalinism.  

3. 

COMMENTS ON THE COMMON POSITION 

The  Common  position  has  been  adopted  on  18  September  2006  by  unanimity.  It  is  largely 
based  on  the  Commission  amended  proposal,  which  itself  accepted  a  large  number  of  the 
European  Parliament’s  amendments.  The  following  amendments  were  indeed  accepted,  in 
full, in principle or in part: amendments number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 
19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 50, 51, 52, 60, 61. The 
differences  between  the  Commission  amended  proposal  and  the  Common  position  of  the 
Council concern the following three main issues:  

The first issue concerns designated organisations. The Commission proposed the designation, 
for the whole duration of the programme, of a total of nine designated organisations, thereby 
integrating three additional organisations proposed by the European Parliament. However, in 
view of the difficulties encountered by the Council in reaching a compromise on this issue, 
the Commission can accept the position of the Council, consisting in the phasing out, after a 
period of three years, of the nine designated organisations.  

The  second  issue  is  related  to  the  budget  breakdown  between  the  actions.  The  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  reviewed  the  original  proposal  of  the  Commission,  putting 
emphasis however on different actions of the programme (on action I for the Council and on 
action  II  for  the  European  Parliament).  The  Commission's  amended  proposal  broadly 
maintained  its  initial  position,  in  order  to  ensure  a  balance  between  the  different  actions. 
However,  in  order  to  facilitate  a  quick  agreement,  the  Commission  can  accept  any 
compromise solution within the limits set by the co-legislators (i.e. between 40 and 47 % for 
action I and between 29 and 38 % for action II).  

The third issue regards comitology. The Commission made a declaration, for inclusion in the 
minutes of the  Council,  expressing its regrets about the introduction of  a  further step in the 
comitology procedure, which will have a negative impact on the beneficiaries. However, the 
Commission can accept the text of the Common position in order to avoid any delay in the 
adoption of the programme. 

Under  those  circumstances,  the  Commission  considers  the  Common  position  as  being  an 
acceptable compromise and recommends to the European Parliament to approve it.  

The  Commission  notes  that  the  equivalent  of  the  financial  envelope  of  EUR  190  million  in 
2004 prices referred to in the Council common position (article 11 on budgetary resources) is 
EUR 215 million in current prices. 

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4. 

CONCLUSION 

Under  the  current  circumstances,  the  Commission  considers  that  the  common  position 
adopted on 18 September 2006 by unanimity is acceptable and recommends to the European 
Parliament to approve it. 

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ANNEX  

Declaration by the Commission on Comitology (article 8) 

The Commission regrets the wish of the Council to introduce into the “Citizens for Europe” 
Programme  Decision  a  comitology  procedure  for  individual  activity  selection  decisions,  in 
addition  to  the  comitology  procedure  envisaged  in  the  Commission’s  original  proposal  for 
defining the priorities and selection criteria.  

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. This 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  “Citizens  for  Europe”  programme,  the  Commission  will  inform  the 
Programme Committee and the European Parliament without delay of all selection decisions 
that are taken without recourse to a comitology procedure.  

The  Commission  furthermore  will  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 process for individual selection decisions.  

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

Policy area(s): 

Education and culture 

Activit(y/ies): 

Fostering European Citizenship 

TITLE OF ACTION:  EUROPE FOR CITIZENS 

1. 

BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S) 

15.06.66 Citizens for Europe 
15.01.04.66 Citizens for Europe — Expenditure on administrative management 

15.01.04.31  Executive  Agency  for  Education,  Audiovisual  and  Culture  —  Subsidy 
for programmes of Heading 3b 

04.04.09  Support  to  the  running  costs  of  the  Platform  of  European  Social  Non-
Governmental Organisations 

2. 

OVERALL FIGURES  

2.1. 

Total allocation for action: € 215,000 million for commitment 

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 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013* 

Total

Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place) 

Commitments 

19,959 

26,970 

28,620 

29,070 

29,070 

29,340 

29,620 

192,649 

Payments 

14,039 

24,893 

28,086 

27,718 

28,294 

28,898 

40,720 

192,649 

* 2013 et seq for payments 

(b) 

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

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013* 

Total

Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place) 

Commitments 

2,961 

3,130 

3,180

3,230

3,230

3,260

3,360 

22,351

Payments 

2,961 

3,130 

3,180

3,230

3,230

3,260

3,360 

22,351

* 2013 et seq for payments 

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Subtotal a + b 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013* 

Total

Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place) 

Commitments 

22,920 

30,100 

31,800 

32,300 

32,300 

32,600 

32,980 

Payments 

17,000 

28,023 

31,266 

30,948 

31,524 

32,158 

44,080 

215,000

215,000

* 2013 et seq for payments 

(c) 

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

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Total 

Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place)  

Commitments
/ payments 

TOTAL 
a+b+c 

Commitments 

Payments 

1,729 

1,765 

1,801 

1,837 

1,873 

1,909 

1,945 

12,859 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013* 

Total 

Cash prices € million (to 3rd decimal place) 

24,649 

31,865 

33,601 

34,137 

34,173 

34,509 

34,925 

227,859

18,729 

29,788 

33,067 

32,785 

33,397 

34,067 

46,025 

227,859

* 2013 et seq for payments 

2.4. 

Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective 

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 
perspective 

Non-comp 

Diff 

Non-comp 

Non-Diff 

NO 

NO 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

N° 3 b 

N° 3 b 

4. 

LEGAL BASIS  

Treaty establishing the European Community, Articles 151 & 308. 

5. 

DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS 

See initial proposal. 

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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) 

ACTION N°1: 
ACTIVE CITIZENS 
FOR EUROPE 

10,559 

14,177 

15,046 

15,281 

15,179 

15,422 

15,470 

101,134 

- TOWN TWINNING 

10,559 

13,677 

14,046 

14,281 

14,179 

14,422 

14,220 

95,384

- CITIZENS' PROJECTS 
AND SUPPORT 
MEASURES 

ACTION N°2: 
ACTIVE CIVIL 
SOCIETY IN 
EUROPE 

- STRUCTURAL 
SUPPORT TO "THINK 
TANKS" 

- STRUCTURAL 
SUPPORT TO CIVIL 
SOCIETY 
ORGANISATIONS 

- CIVIL SOCIETY 
PROJECTS 

ACTION N°3: 
TOGETHER FOR 
EUROPE 

- HIGH VISIBILITY 
EVENTS 

0,000 

0,500 

1,000 

1,000 

1,000 

1,000 

1,250 

5,750

7,220 

8,579 

9,122 

9,267 

9,339 

9,354 

9,544 

62,425 

1,804 

1,804 

1,980 

1,980 

1,980 

1,980 

2,068 

13,596

2,296 

2,296 

2,520 

2,520 

2,520 

2,520 

2,632 

17,304

3,120 

4,479 

4,622 

4,767 

4,839 

4,854 

4,844 

31,525

1,260 

3,010 

3,180 

3,230 

3,260 

3,260 

3,291 

20,491 

0,650 

2,180 

2,200 

2,200 

2,230 

2,230 

2,261 

13,951

- STUDIES 

0,000 

0,200 

0,200 

0,250 

0,250 

0,250 

0,250 

1,400

- DISSEMINATION / 
INFORMATION 

ACTION N°4: 
ACTIVE EUROPEAN 
REMEMBRANCE 

- SUPPORT TO 
PROJECTS 

0,610 

0,630 

0,780 

0,780 

0,780 

0,780 

0,780 

5,140

0,920 

1,204 

1,272 

1,292 

1,292 

1,304 

1,315 

8,600 

0,920 

1,204 

1,272 

1,292 

1,292 

1,304 

1,315 

8,600

TOTAL 

19,959 

26,970 

28,620 

29,070 

29,070 

29,340 

29,620 

192,649 

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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 

2,661 

2,706 

2,746 

2,809 

2,802 

2,839 

2,919 

19,483 

0,051 

0,051 

0,051 

0,048 

0,047 

0,045 

0,045 

0,337 

0,025 

0,026 

0,025 

0,024 

0,023 

0,022 

0,023 

0,024 

0,024 

0,024 

0,022 

0,022 

0,021 

0,021 

0,035 

0,038 

0,044 

0,048 

0,053 

0,053 

0,060 

Subtotal 1 

2,796 

2,845 

2,890 

2,951 

2,947 

2,980 

3,068 

2) Support expenditure 

0,025 

0,128 

0,127 

0,119 

0,128 

0,123 

0,128 

0,025 

0,026 

0,025 

0,024 

0,023 

0,022 

0,023 

0,042 

0,043 

0,042 

0,040 

0,039 

0,037 

0,038 

0,073 

0,089 

0,095 

0,096 

0,093 

0,097 

0,104 

0,165 

0,285 

0,290 

0,279 

0,283 

0,280 

0,292 

2,961 

3,130 

3,180 

3,230 

3,230 

3,260 

3,360 

22,351 

a)  Executive 
Agency 

b) Other TAA: 

- intra muros: 

- extra muros: 

Symmetry 

Audits 

Other informatics 
assistance 

Experts – project 
evaluations 

a) Studies 

b) Meetings of 
experts 

c) Information and 
publications 

d)  Other 

Subtotal 2 

TOTAL 

0,168 

0,157 

0,331 

20,477 

0,778 

0,168 

0,281 

0,647 

1,874 

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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 
(total for years 
2007-2013)  

Average unit 
cost 

Total cost 

(total for years 
2007-2013)  

ACTION N°1: ACTIVE 
CITIZENS FOR EUROPE 

- TOWN TWINNING 

- CITIZENS' PROJECTS AND 
SUPPORT MEASURES 

ACTION N°2: ACTIVE CIVIL 
SOCIETY IN EUROPE 

Operating & 
Project Grants 
Project Grants 
& Service 
Contracts 

- STRUCTURAL SUPPORT TO 
"THINK TANKS" 

- STRUCTURAL SUPPORT TO 
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS 

Operating 
Grants 

Operating 
Grants 

8959 

101,134 

8671 

288 

0,011 

0,020 

95,384 

5,750 

566 

62,425 

76 

96 

0,180 

13,596 

0,180 

17,304 

- CIVIL SOCIETY PROJECTS 

Project Grants 

394 

0,080 

31,525 

ACTION N°3: TOGETHER FOR 
EUROPE 

58 

20,491 

- HIGH VISIBILITY EVENTS 

- STUDIES 

- DISSEMINATION / 
INFORMATION 

ACTION N°4: ACTIVE 
EUROPEAN REMEMBRANCE 

Project Grants 
& Service 
Contracts 
Project Grants 
& Service 
Contracts 
Operating 
Grants & 
Service 
Contracts 

- SUPPORT TO PROJECTS 

Project Grants 

TOTAL 

19 

6 

33 

0,735 

13,951 

0,230 

1,400 

0,155 

5,140 

8,600 

246 

0,035 

8,600 

192,649 

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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. 

7. 

IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE  

7.1. 

Impact on human resources 

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 

B 

C 

Other human resources 

DNE/AUX 

Total 

4 

1 

6 

1 DNE 

3 AUX 

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4 

15 

7.2. 

Overall financial impact of human resources  

Type of human resources 

Amount (€ million)
2007 

Method of calculation 

Officials 

Temporary staff 

Other human resources 

1.188.000 € 

FTE: 11 * 108.000 € 

1-A: 87.014 €, 
1-B: 51.540 €, 
1-C: 40.037 € 
1-DNE: 44.316 € 

223.000 € 

Total 

1.411.000 € 

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months. 

7.3. 

Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action  

Budget line 

(number and heading) 

Overall allocation (Title A7) 

A0701 – Missions 

Amount € million 

2007(2013) 

Method of calculation 

42.000 €  5 persons * 10missions * 825 € 

(average) 

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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) 

116.000 €  2meetings * 50persons * (860 € + 

(2*150 €)) 

68.000 €  3meetings * 25persons * 860€ 

(Management Committee) 

200.000 €  Annual Conference (approx.) 

Total 

426.000 € 

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) 

€ 1.837.000 € 

7 years 

€ 12.859.000 € 

8. 

FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION 

See initial proposal. 

9. 

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES 

See initial proposal.  

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