Decision No 1855/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 establishing the Culture Programme (2007 to 2013)
Date: 2006-12-12
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: EU action, action programme, cultural cooperation, cultural policy

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I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

DECISION No 1855/2006/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 12 December 2006

establishing the Culture Programme (2007 to 2013)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular the first indent of Article 151(5) thereof,

(4)

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of
Regions (1),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251
of the Treaty (2),

(5)

Whereas:

(1)

is essential

It
to promote cooperation and cultural
exchanges in order to respect and promote the diversity
of cultures and languages in Europe and improve knowl-
edge among European citizens of European cultures other
than their own, while at the same time heightening their
awareness of the common European cultural heritage they
share. Promoting cultural and linguistic cooperation and
diversity thus helps to make European citizenship a tangible
reality by encouraging direct participation by European
citizens in the integration process.

(2) An active cultural policy aimed at the preservation of
European cultural diversity and the promotion of
its
common cultural elements and cultural heritage can
the
contribute to improving the external visibility of
European Union.

(3)

For citizens to give their full support to, and participate
fully in, European integration, greater emphasis should be
placed on their common cultural values and roots as a key
element of their identity and their membership of a society
founded on freedom, equity, democracy, respect for human

(1) OJ C 164, 5.7.2005, p. 65.
(2) Position of

the European Parliament of 25 October 2005 (OJ
C 272 E, 9.11.2006, p. 233), Council Common Position of 18 July
2006 (OJ C 238 E, 3.10.2006, p. 18) and Position of the European
Parliament of 24 October 2006 (not yet published in the Official
Journal). Council Decision of 11 December 2006.

dignity and integrity,
in full
compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of
the European Union.

tolerance and solidarity,

It is essential that the cultural sector contribute to, and play
a role in, broader European political developments. The
cultural sector is an important employer in its own right
and there is, in addition, a clear link between investment in
culture and economic development, hence the importance
of reinforcing cultural policies at regional, national and
European level. Accordingly, the place of cultural industries
in the developments taking place under the Lisbon Strategy
should be strengthened, as these industries are making an
increasingly large contribution to the European economy.

is also necessary to promote active citizenship and
It
its forms,
strengthen the fight against exclusion in all
including racism and xenophobia.
Improving access to
culture for as many as possible can be a means of
combating social exclusion.

(6) Article 3 of the Treaty stipulates that, in all the activities
referred to in that Article, the Community is to aim at
eliminating inequalities, and at promoting equality, between
men and women.

(7)

The Kaleidoscope, Ariane, Raphael and Culture 2000
cultural programmes, set out respectively in Decisions
Nos 719/96/EC (3), 2085/97/EC (4), 2228/97/EC (5) and
508/2000/EC (6), marked positive stages in the implemen-
tation of Community action on culture. Considerable
experience has thus been acquired, particularly through
the evaluation of these cultural programmes. It is at present
worthwhile to rationalise and strengthen Community

(3) Decision No 719/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 29 March 1996 establishing a programme to support
artistic and cultural activities having a European dimension
(Kaleidoscope) (OJ L 99, 20.4.1996, p. 20). Decision as amended
by Decision No 477/1999/EC (OJ L 57, 5.3.1999, p. 2).

(4) Decision No 2085/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 6 October 1997 establishing a programme of support,
including translation, in the field of books and reading (Ariane) (OJ
L 291, 24.10.1997, p. 26). Decision as amended by Decision No 476/
1999/EC (OJ L 57, 5.3.1999, p. 1).

(5) Decision No 2228/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 13 October 1997 establishing a Community action
(The Raphael
programme
Programme) (OJ L 305, 8.11.1997, p. 31). Decision as repealed by
Decision No 508/2000/EC (OJ L 63, 10.3.2000, p. 1).

cultural heritage

field of

in the

(6) Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 14 February 2000 establishing the Culture 2000
programme (OJ L 63, 10.3.2000, p. 1). Decision as last amended
by Council Regulation (EC) No 885/2004 (OJ L 168, 1.5.2004, p. 1).

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these
cultural action on the basis of
evaluations, the results of consultation with all interested
parties and recent work by the European institutions. It is
therefore appropriate to establish a programme to this end.

the results of

as the collection and dissemination of information and
activities aimed at maximising the impact of projects in the
field of European cultural cooperation and European
cultural policy development.

(8)

(9)

(10)

The European institutions have themselves spoken out on
many occasions on subjects relating to Community cultural
action and the challenges of cultural cooperation,
in
particular in Council Resolutions of 25 June 2002 on a
new work plan on European cooperation in the field of
culture (1) and of 19 December 2002 implementing the
work plan for European cooperation in the field of
culture (2),
the European Parliament of
5 September 2001 on cultural cooperation in the European
Union (3), of 28 February 2002 on the implementation of
the Culture 2000 Programme (4), of 22 October 2002 on
the theatre and the
the importance and dynamism of
performing arts
and of
Industries (6), and the
4 September 2003 on Cultural
opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 9 October
2003 on the extension of the Culture 2000 Programme.

in an enlarged Europe (5),

resolutions of

in its abovementioned resolutions, has
The Council,
stressed the need to adopt a more coherent approach at
Community level with regard to culture, and that European
added value is an essential and determining concept in the
context of European cultural cooperation, and a general
condition for Community measures in the field of culture.

it

In order to make this common cultural area for the peoples
to promote the
of Europe a reality,
transnational mobility of cultural players and the trans-
national circulation of artistic and cultural works and
products,
and cultural
exchanges.

and to encourage dialogue

is important

(11) The Council,

in its conclusions of 16 November 2004
relating to the work plan on culture (2005-2006), the
European Parliament in its resolution of 4 September 2003
on Cultural Industries, and the European Economic and
Social Committee in its opinion of 28 January 2004 on
cultural industries in Europe, have expressed their views on
the need to take greater account of the specific economic
and social features of non-audiovisual cultural industries.
Moreover,
the preparatory actions for cooperation on
cultural matters promoted between 2002-2004 should be
taken into account in the new programme.

(12)

In this context, there is a case for promoting increased
cooperation between cultural players by encouraging them
to form multi-annual cooperation projects, thus enabling
them to develop common activities, to provide support for
more targeted measures with a real European added value,
to support symbolic cultural events, to support European
cultural
cooperation organisations and to encourage
analyses on chosen themes of European interest, as well

(1) OJ C 162, 6.7.2002, p. 5.
(2) OJ C 13, 18.1.2003, p. 5.
(3) OJ C 72 E, 21.3.2002, p. 142.
(4) OJ C 293 E, 28.11.2002, p. 105.
(5) OJ C 300 E, 11.12.2003, p. 156.
(6) OJ C 76 E, 25.3.2004, p. 459.

(13) Under Decision No 1622/2006/EC of

the European
Parliament and of
the Council of 24 October 2006
establishing a Community action for the European Capital
of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019 (7) significant
funding should be given to this event, which has a high
profile among Europeans and helps to strengthen the
feeling of belonging to a common cultural area. In the
context of
the accent should be on trans-
European cultural cooperation.

this event,

(14) Support should be given to the operation of organisations
working for European cultural cooperation and thus
playing the role of ambassadors of European culture, based
on the experience acquired by the European Union in the
context of Decision No 792/2004/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 establish-
ing a Community action programme to promote bodies
active at European level in the field of culture (8).

(15)

It is necessary for the Programme, in compliance with the
principle of freedom of expression, to contribute to the
European Union's efforts to promote sustainable develop-
ment and to combat all forms of discrimination.

(16) The European Union candidate countries and EFTA
countries which are members of
the EEA Agreement
should be recognised as potential participants in Commu-
nity programmes in accordance with the agreements
concluded with those countries.

(17) The European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 adopted the
‘Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans: moving
towards European integration’, laying down that Commu-
nity programmes should be open to the countries in the
Stabilisation and Association Process on the basis of
framework agreements to be signed between the Commu-
nity and those countries.
If they wish, those countries
should be able, depending on budgetary considerations or
political priorities, to take part in the Programme or benefit
from a more limited formula for cooperation, on the basis
of supplementary appropriations and specific procedures to
be agreed between the parties concerned.

(18) The Programme should also be open to cooperation with
other third countries which have signed agreements with
the Community containing a cultural strand, in accordance
with procedures to be defined.

(19)

It is necessary, in order to increase the added value of the
Community action, to ensure coherence and complemen-

(7) OJ L 304, 3.11.2006, p. 1.
(8) OJ L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 40.

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tarity between actions carried out within the framework of
this Decision and other
relevant Community policies,
actions and instruments, in compliance with Article 151(4)
of the Treaty. Particular attention should be paid to the
interface of Community measures in the fields of culture
and education and to actions which promote exchanges of
best practice and closer cooperation at European level.

(20) With regard to the implementation of Community support,
the specific nature of the cultural sector in Europe should
be taken into account, and particular care should be taken
to ensure that administrative and financial procedures are
simplified as much as possible and adapted to the objectives
pursued as well as to practices and developments in the
cultural sector.

(21) The Commission, Member States and the cultural contact
points should work to encourage the participation of
smaller operators in the multi-annual cooperation projects
and the organisation of activities aimed at bringing together
potential project partners.

(22) The Programme should bring together the specific qualities
and expertise of cultural operators
from throughout
Europe. Where necessary, the Commission and Member
States should take measures to address low participation
rates of cultural operators
in any Member State or
participating country.

(23)

It
is worthwhile ensuring, within the framework of
cooperation between the Commission and Member States,
ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Programme in
to enable readjustments, particularly within the
order
priorities
implementation of measures. The
evaluation should include an external evaluation to be
conducted by independent, impartial bodies.

the

for

(24) The procedures

for monitoring and evaluating the
Programme should make use of objectives and indicators
which are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and
timed.

European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on
budgetary discipline and sound financial management (1).

(28) The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
procedures
implementing powers
the exercise of
conferred on the Commission (2).

for

(29) The measures necessary for the financial implementation of
this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002
on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget
of the European Communities (3) (hereinafter referred to as
‘the Financial Regulation’), and with Commission Regula-
tion (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002
laying down detailed rules for the implementation of
Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (4).

(30) Community action is complementary to national or
regional action in the field of cultural cooperation. Since
the objectives of this Decision, namely to enhance the
European cultural area based on common cultural heritage
(transnational mobility of cultural players
in Europe,
transnational circulation of works of art and cultural and
artistic products and intercultural dialogue) cannot be
sufficiently achieved by the Member States owing to their
transnational character, and can therefore, by reason of the
scale or effects of
the action, be better achieved at
Community level, the Community may adopt measures,
in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in
Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of
proportionality as set out in that Article, this Decision does
not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those
objectives.

(31) There should be transitional provisions in order to ensure a
smooth transition between the programmes drawn up by
Decisions No 508/2000/EC and No 792/2004/EC on the
one hand and, on the other, the Programme established by
this Decision,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment and duration

(25) Suitable measures should be implemented to prevent
irregularities and fraud and to recover funds which have
been lost or transferred or used improperly.

(26)

It
is appropriate to establish a single financing and
programming instrument for cultural cooperation, entitled
the ‘Culture Programme’, for the period from 1 January
2007 to 31 December 2013.

(27) This Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the
Programme, a financial envelope constituting the prime
the
reference, within the meaning of point 37 of
Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the

1. This Decision establishes the Culture Programme, a single
multi-annual programme for Community measures in the field
of culture open to all cultural sectors and all categories of cultural
operators (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programme’).

2. The Programme shall be implemented for the period from
1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.

(1) OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision

2006/512/EC (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).

(3) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1248/2006 (OJ L 227,
19.8.2006, p. 3).

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Article 2

Budget

Article 5

Provisions concerning third countries

1. The financial envelope for
the
Programme for the period referred to in Article 1 is hereby set
at EUR 400 million.

the implementation of

1. The Programme shall be open to the participation of the
following countries:

2. Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary
authority within the limits of the financial framework.

(a)

EFTA countries which are members of
the EEA,
accordance with the provisions of the EEA Agreement;

in

Article 3

Objectives

1. The general objective of the Programme shall be to enhance
the cultural area shared by Europeans and based on a common
cultural heritage through the development of cultural cooper-
ation between the creators, cultural players and cultural
institutions of the countries taking part in the Programme, with
a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship.
The Programme shall be open to the participation of non-
audiovisual cultural
small cultural
enterprises, where such industries are acting in a non-profit-
making cultural capacity.

in particular

industries,

2. The specific objectives of the Programme are:

(a)

to promote the transnational mobility of cultural players;

(b)

to encourage the transnational circulation of works and
cultural and artistic products;

(c)

to encourage intercultural dialogue.

(b)

(c)

candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy
for accession to the Union, in accordance with the general
principles and with the general conditions and procedures
for the participation of these countries in the Community
programmes established in the framework agreements;

the countries of the Western Balkans in accordance with
the procedures defined with those countries following the
framework agreements providing for their participation in
Community programmes.

Provided that the conditions are met and additional appropria-
tions are paid, the countries referred to in this paragraph shall
participate fully in the Programme.

2. The Programme shall also be open to cooperation with
other third countries which have concluded association or
cooperation agreements with the Community which include
cultural clauses, on the basis of supplementary appropriations
and specific procedures to be laid down.

Article 4

Fields of action

The countries of the Western Balkans referred to in paragraph 1
(c) which do not wish to benefit from full participation in the
Programme may benefit from cooperation with the Programme
under the conditions laid down in this paragraph.

1. The objectives of the Programme shall be pursued through
the implementation of the following measures, as described in
the Annex:

Article 6

(a)

support for cultural actions, as follows:

— multi-annual cooperation projects,

— cooperation measures,

— special actions;

Cooperation with international organisations

The Programme shall permit joint action with international
organisations competent in the field of culture, such as UNESCO
or the Council of Europe, on the basis of joint contributions and
in accordance with the various rules prevailing in each institution
or organisation for the realisation of the measures listed in
Article 4.

(b)

(c)

support for bodies active at European level in the field of
culture;

Article 7

support for analyses and the collection and dissemination
of information and for activities maximising the impact of
projects in the field of European cultural cooperation and
European cultural policy development.

2. These measures shall be carried out in accordance with the
provisions set out in the Annex.

Complementarity with other Community instruments

The Commission shall ensure a link between the Programme and
other Community instruments, particularly those relating to the
Structural Funds and those in the fields of education, vocational
training, research, information society, citizenship, youth, sport,
languages, social inclusion, EU external relations and combating
all forms of discrimination.

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Article 8

Implementation

1. The Commission shall implement the Community actions
which form the subject of the Programme in accordance with the
Annex.

2. The following measures shall be adopted in accordance with
the procedure referred to in Article 9(2):

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

the annual work plan, including priorities, selection criteria
and procedures;

the annual budget and the breakdown of funds among the
different actions of the Programme;

the procedures for monitoring and evaluating the Pro-
gramme;

the financial support to be provided by the Community
under Article 4(1)(a),
indent: amounts, duration,
first
distribution and beneficiaries.

3. All other measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure
referred to in Article 9(3).

Article 9

Committee

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7
of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at two months.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7
of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

4. The committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

Article 10

Cultural contact points

1. The cultural contact points as defined in section I.3.1 of the
Annex shall act as implementing bodies for the dissemination of
information on the Programme at national level, having regard to
Article 54(2)(c) and (3) of the Financial Regulation.

2. The cultural contact points shall comply with the following
criteria:

(b)

(c)

have an appropriate infrastructure, in particular as regards
information and communications technology;

operate in an administrative context which enables them to
carry out their tasks satisfactorily and to avoid conflicts of
interest.

Article 11

Financial provisions

1.
Financial aid shall take the form of grants to legal persons.
Grants may in certain cases be awarded to natural persons under
the terms of Article 114(1) of the Financial Regulation. The
Commission may also award prizes to natural or legal persons
for actions or projects implemented under the Programme.
Depending on the nature of the action, flat-rate financing and/or
the application of unit cost rates may be authorised.

2. The Commission may decide,
in accordance with the
characteristics of the beneficiaries and the nature of the actions,
whether to exempt them from verification of the professional
required to complete the
competencies and qualifications
proposed action or work programme.

3.
Specific activities by the European Capitals of Culture
designated pursuant to Decision 1419/1999/EC may receive a
grant or a prize.

Article 12

Contribution to other Community objectives

The Programme shall contribute to the strengthening of the
transversal objectives of the Community, in particular by:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

promoting the fundamental principle of
expression;

freedom of

encouraging greater awareness of
contributing to sustainable development;

the importance of

seeking to promote mutual understanding and tolerance
within the European Union;

contributing to the elimination of all discrimination based
on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability,
age or sexual orientation.

Particular attention shall be given to coherence and comple-
mentarity between the Programme and Community policies in
the field of cultural cooperation with third countries.

Article 13

Monitoring and evaluation

(a)

have an adequate number of staff, with professional and
linguistic capacities appropriate for work in an environ-
ment of international cooperation;

1. The Commission shall ensure regular monitoring of the
Programme against its objectives. The results of the monitoring
and evaluation process shall be used when implementing the
Programme.

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Monitoring shall include in particular the drawing up of the
reports referred to in paragraph 3(a) and (c).

The specific objectives of the Programme may, on the basis of the
results of monitoring reports, be revised in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty.

2. The Commission shall ensure regular, external and inde-
pendent evaluation of the Programme.

3. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament,
the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and
the Committee of the Regions:

(a)

(b)

(c)

an interim evaluation report on the results obtained and on
the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementa-
tion of the Programme not later than 31 December 2010;

a communication on the continuation of the Programme
not later than 31 December 2011;

an ex post evaluation report not later than 31 December
2015.

Article 14

Transitional provisions

Actions initiated before 31 December 2006 on the basis of
Decisions No 508/2000/EC and No 792/2004/EC shall continue
to be administered until their closure in accordance with the
provisions of these Decisions.

The committee set up under the terms of Article 5 of Decision
No 508/2000/EC shall be replaced by the committee provided
for in Article 9 of this Decision.

Article 15

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 Strasbourg, 12 December 2006.

For the European Parliament
President
J. BORRELL FONTELLES

For the Council
President
M. PEKKARINEN

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ANNEX

I.

1.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

First strand: support for cultural actions

1.1. Multi-annual cooperation projects

The Programme shall support sustainable and structured cultural cooperation projects in order to bring together the
specific quality and expertise of cultural operators throughout the whole of Europe. This support is intended to assist
the cooperation projects in their start-up and structuring phase or in their geographical extension phase. The aim shall
be to encourage them to establish sustainable foundations and achieve financial autonomy.

Each cooperation project shall
involve at least six operators from six different countries participating in the
Programme. Its purpose shall be to bring together a variety of operators from one or more sectors for various multi-
annual activities, which may be sectoral or cross-sectoral in nature but which must pursue a common objective.

Each cooperation project shall be intended to carry out a number of structured, multi-annual cultural activities. These
activities are to be implemented throughout the duration of Community financing. They must have at least two of the
three specific objectives indicated in Article 3(2). Priority will be given to cooperation projects intending to develop
activities meeting the three specific objectives in that Article.

The cooperation projects shall be selected following calls for proposals pursuant to the Financial Regulation. In this
context, selection will be made on the basis, among other things, of the recognised expertise of co-organisers in their
field of activity, their financial and operational capacity to carry out the proposed activities, and the quality of these
activities and the extent to which they meet the general objective and specific objectives of the Programme, as set out
in Article 3.

The cooperation projects must be founded on a cooperation agreement, i.e. a common document with a legal form in
one of the participating countries and signed by all co-organisers.

Community support may not exceed 50 % of the project budget and shall be degressive in nature. It may not exceed
EUR 500 000 per year for all activities of the cooperation projects. This support shall be granted for a period of three
to five years.

By way of illustration, approximately 32 % of the total budget allocated to the Programme shall be devoted to this type
of support.

1.2. Cooperation measures

The Programme shall support sectoral or cross-sectoral cultural cooperation actions between European operators.
Priority shall be given to creativity and innovation. Actions aimed at exploring avenues for cooperation in order to
develop them over the longer term will be particularly encouraged.

Each action shall be designed and carried out in partnership by at least three cultural operators in three different
participating countries, whether or not these operators come from one or more sectors.

Actions shall be selected following calls for proposals pursuant to the Financial Regulation. In this context, selection
will be made on the basis of the recognised expertise of co-organisers, their financial and operational capacity to carry
out the proposed activities, the quality of these activities and the extent to which they meet the general objective and
specific objectives of the Programme, as set out in Article 3.

Community support may not exceed 50 % of the project budget. It may not be less than EUR 50 000 nor more than
EUR 200 000. This support shall be granted for a maximum of 24 months.

The conditions set out for this action concerning the minimum number of operators required in order to present
projects, as well as the minimum and maximum amounts for Community support, may be adapted to take account of
the specific conditions of literary translation.

By way of illustration, approximately 29 % of the total budget allocated to the Programme shall be devoted to this type
of support.

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1.3. Special actions

The Programme shall also support special actions. These actions shall be special in that they should be substantial in
scale and scope, strike a significant chord with the peoples of Europe and help to increase their sense of belonging to
the same community, make them aware of the cultural diversity of Member States, and also contribute to intercultural
and international dialogue. They must meet at least two of the three specific objectives set out in Article 3.

These special actions shall also help to raise the visibility of Community cultural action both within and beyond the
European Union. They shall also contribute to raising global awareness of the wealth and diversity of European
culture.

Significant support will be given to the ‘European Capitals of Culture’ in order to help implement activities stressing
European visibility and trans-European cultural cooperation.

Special actions may also include the awarding of prizes, in so far as they highlight artists, works or cultural or artistic
achievements, make them known beyond national borders and thus encourage mobility and exchanges.

Support may also be given in this context to cooperation with third countries and international organisations, as set
out in Article 5(2) and Article 6.

The examples given above do not constitute an exhaustive list of measures likely to be supported under this sub-strand
of the Programme.

The selection procedures for special actions will depend on the action in question. Financing will be granted following
calls for proposals and invitations to tender, except in the cases referred to in Articles 54 and 168 of the Financial
Regulation. Account will also be taken of the extent to which each action meets the general objective and specific
objectives of the Programme, as set out in Article 3 of this Decision.

Community support may not exceed 60 % of the project budget.

By way of illustration, approximately 16 % of the total budget allocated to the Programme shall be devoted to this type
of support.

2.

Second strand: support for bodies active at European level in the field of culture

This support shall take the form of an operating grant to co-finance expenditure associated with the permanent work
programme of a body which pursues an aim of general European interest in the field of culture or an objective
forming part of the Union's policy in this area.

Provision shall be made for these grants to be awarded on the basis of annual calls for proposals.

By way of illustration, approximately 10 % of the total budget allocated to the Programme shall be devoted to this
strand.

Support may be given to bodies working for cultural cooperation in one or more of the following ways:

— providing representation at Community level,

— collecting or disseminating information for facilitating trans-European Community cultural cooperation,

— networking at European level for bodies active in the field of culture,

— participating in cultural cooperation projects or acting as ambassadors for European culture.

These bodies must present a real European dimension. In this regard, they must carry out their activities at European
level, alone or in the form of various coordinated associations, and their structure (registered members) and activities
must have a potential influence at European Union level or cover at least seven European countries.

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This strand shall be open to the bodies supported under Part 2 of Annex I to Decision No 792/2004/EC as well as any
other body active at European level in the field of culture, provided that they meet the objectives set out in Article 3 of
this Decision and comply with the terms and conditions of this Decision.

The beneficiaries of these operating grants shall be selected through a call for proposals. This shall be done on the
basis of matching the bodies' work programme with the specific objectives set out in Article 3.

The total operating grant awarded under this strand may not exceed 80 % of the body's admissible expenditure for the
year in which the grant is awarded.

3.

Third strand: support for analyses and for the collection and dissemination of information and for
maximising the impact of projects in the field of cultural cooperation

By way of illustration, approximately 5 % of the total budget allocated to the Programme shall be devoted to this
strand.

3.1. Support for cultural contact points

In order to ensure targeted, effective grass-roots dissemination of practical information on the Programme, it shall
provide for support from cultural contact points. These bodies, acting at national level, shall be set up on a voluntary
basis according to Article 39 of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002.

The task of the cultural contact points shall be to:

— promote the Programme,

— facilitate access to the Programme for, and encourage participation in its activities by, as many professionals and
operators in the cultural field as possible, by means of an effective dissemination of information and by
developing appropriate networking initiatives between themselves,

— provide an efficient link with the various institutions providing aid to the cultural sector in Member States, thus
contributing to complementarity between the measures taken under the Programme and national support
measures,

— provide information on other Community programmes open for cultural projects if required.

3.2. Support for analyses in the field of cultural cooperation

The Programme shall support the carrying out of studies and analyses in the field of European cultural cooperation
and European cultural policy development. The aim of this support shall be to increase the volume and quality of
information and data to develop comparative data and analysis on cultural cooperation at European level, particularly
with regard to the mobility of creators and cultural players, the circulation of works of art and artistic and cultural
products and intercultural dialogue.

Studies and analyses contributing to increasing knowledge of
trans-European cultural
cooperation and to creating favourable conditions for it to flourish may be supported under this strand. Projects
aimed at collecting and analysing statistics will be particularly encouraged.

the phenomenon of

3.3. Support for the collection and dissemination of information and for maximising the impact of projects in the field of cultural

cooperation.

The Programme shall support the collection and dissemination of information and activities aimed at maximising the
impact of projects via the development of an Internet tool targeted at the needs of culture professionals in the field of
trans-European cultural cooperation.

This tool should make possible the exchange of experience and good practice and the dissemination of information
concerning the Programme as well as trans-European cultural cooperation in the broad sense.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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II.

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

The Programme's financial allocation may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit
and evaluation activities, required directly for the management and the realisation of the objectives of the Programme,
in particular, studies, meetings, information and publication actions, expenses linked to computer networks focusing
on information exchange, together with all other technical and administrative assistance expense to which the
Commission may have recourse for the management of the Programme.

III.

CONTROLS AND AUDITS

For projects selected in accordance with the procedure described in Article 11(2), a sampling audit system will be
established.

The beneficiary of a grant shall make available to the Commission all supporting documents relating to expenditure
for a period of five years reckoned from the date of the final payment. The beneficiary of a grant shall ensure that,
where applicable, supporting documents in the possession of partners or members are 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 contract 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 access to the offices of
the beneficiary 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 those of
access, as the Commission.

In order to protect the financial interests of the Community against fraud and other irregularities, the Commission
may carry out on-the-spot checks and inspections under the Programme in accordance with Council Regulation
(Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 (1). Where necessary, investigations shall be conducted by OLAF in accordance with
Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2).

IV.

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND ACTIVITIES AIMED AT MAXIMISING THE IMPACT OF PROJECTS

1.

Commission

The Commission may organise seminars, conferences or meetings in order to facilitate the implementation of the
Programme, and undertake information, publication, dissemination and other activities aimed at maximising the
impact of projects as appropriate, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of the Programme. Such activities may be
financed by means of grants, or the public procurement process, or be organised and financed directly by the
Commission.

2.

Contact points

The Commission and Member States shall organise on a voluntary basis and reinforce the exchange of information
useful for the implementation of the Programme via the cultural contact points acting as implementing bodies at
national level, under the terms of Article 54(2)(c) and (3) of the Financial Regulation.

3. Member States

Without prejudice to Article 87 of the Treaty, Member States may, if necessary, establish support schemes for
individual mobility of cultural players in order to address their low participation in the Programme. This support may
take the form of travel grants for cultural operators in order to facilitate the preparatory phase of transnational cultural
projects.

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

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Official Journal of the European Union

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V.

OVERALL BUDGET BREAKDOWN

Breakdown of the annual budget for the Programme

Strand 1 (support for cultural actions)

— multi-annual cooperation projects

— cooperation measures

— special actions

Strand 2 (support for bodies active at European level in
the field of culture)

Strand 3 — (support for analysis, collection and
dissemination of information)

Total operational expenditure

Programme management

Percentage of the budget

Approximately 77 %

Approximately 32 %

Approximately 29 %

Approximately 16 %

Approximately 10 %

Approximately 5 %

Approximately 92 %

Approximately 8 %

These percentages are indicative and subject to change by the Committee provided for in Article 9 in accordance with
the procedure referred to in Article 9(2).