CELEX: 51995PC0725
Language: en
Date: 1995-12-15
Title: Re-examined proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on a training programme for professionals in the European audiovisual programme industry (MEDIA II - Training) (1996 - 2000)

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                              COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
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                                                             Brussels, 15.12 1995
                                                             COM(95) 725 final
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                                         Re-examined proposal for a
                                           COUNCIL DECISION
                    ON A TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE
                       EUROPEAN AUDIOVISUAL PROGRAMME INDUSTRY
                                        (MEDIA It - TRAINING)
                                                1996-2000
                         (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 c (d)
                                             of the EC Treaty)
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 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                            EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
On 10 July 1995 the Council adopted a common position with a view to adopting a
Council Decision on the implementation of a training programme for professionals in the
European audiovisual programme industry (Media II - Training) (doc. 8427/2/95 Rev. 2
Audio 17 Pro-coop-16).
Under the cooperation procedure (Article 189c of the EC Treaty) this common position
was forwarded to Parliament, which proposed 11 amendments at its plenary sitting on 15
November 1995.
(a)     The Commission has accepted the following amendments in full or in part.
Amendment 1 (Recital 26a) (new). The coordination of Media II (training) activities
with those of other international organizations, such as the Council of Europe would be
desirable. The Commission has adopted a more concise wording than that proposed by
Parliament. Reference to the associated countries of central and eastern Europe is already
made in recital 26 and Article 5 of the Council's common position.
Amendment 2 (Article 2(1), 2nd indent). The explicit reference to the writing of
screenplays and the fact that the programme supplements basic training in the audiovisual
professions fills out and complements the two priorities set out in the common position
(management and new technologies). "Audiovisual programmes" is preferred to
"multimedia" as corresponding more closely to the aims of Media II.
Amendment 3 (Article 2(2)). The establishment of networks between partners involved
in vocational training and training of instructors is a key component of the programme
which is set out in the Annex to the common position. It is therefore logical to include
a specifc reference in the instrument. The Commission's wording is more concise than
that proposed by Parliament.
Amendment 5 (Article 3). The 50% ceiling on the Community contribution to funding
training activities set out in the common position would seriously weaken the innovative
possibilities of thé programme. The Commission accepts Parliament's amendment which
restores the ceiling to 75% as initially provided in the Commission proposal. With
respect to the second part of this amendment relating to the financial arrangements, the
Commission notes Parliament's proposal (ECU 58 million as against ECU 45 million in
the common position) but points out that the inclusion of a reference amount in the
instrument is a unilateral position adopted by the Council.
Amendment 6 (Article 6(4), new second subparagraph). The Commission accepts that
the mid-term evaluation report on the programme should highlight the added value and
social and economic impact derived from the Community financial support.
                                     A
 ---pagebreak--- Amendment 10 (Annex, point 2.2. second subparagraph). This refers to the 75% ceiling
on funding proposed in Amendment 5 and accepted by the Commission.
(b)     The Commission accepts the spirit of the following amendments but considers
they are already covered in the common position.
Amendment 4 (Article 2. first paragraph (2a)(new). The Member States' ability to draw
on know-how corresponding to the needs of the industry and offering reasonable
opportunities to those who wish to obtain training is covered in Article 1 of the common
position, which, in accordance with Article 127(1) of the Treaty stipulates that the
MEDIA II Programme (Training) "supports and supplements action taken by the Member
States in full recognition of the responsibility of those States for the content and
organization of vocational training programmes."
Amendment 7 (Annex, point 1.1) (new). Exchanges of know-how are mentioned in
Article 22 of the common position. Training in writing is covered in Parliament's
Amendment 2, which the Commission accepts.
Amendment 8 (Annex, point 1.2a) (new). Recognition of the European cultural
dimension and market is explicitly referred to in Recitals 15, 16 and 17, and in the first
paragraph of Annex (1.1) to the common position.
Amendment 9 (Annex, point 2.1. first subparagraph). Recital 22 of the common position
contains a specific reference to equal opportunities, a fundamental principle in the policies
of the European Union.
Amendment 11. The access of graduates of vocational training organizations to the
European audiovisual industry is provided for in Article 2(2) and in the Annex to the
common position, points 1.1 second indent and 1.2 third indent .
 ---pagebreak--- PARLIAMENT AMENDMENTS ACCEPTED IN FULL OR IN PART BY THE
                                  COMMISSION
          Common position                   Reexamined proposal
                                            Recital 26a (new)1
                                            Whereas the activities to be carried out
                                            under the programme should be
                                            coordinated with international
                                            organizations, such as the Council of
                                            Europe.
                            Article 2(1), second indent2
     utilization and development of                utilization and development of
     new technologies for the                      new technologies for the
     production of programmes with                 production of audiovisual
     high commercial and artistic                  programmes with high
     value.                                        commercial and artistic value,
                                                   supplementing basic training in
                                                   the sound and image professions.
                                                   writing of screenplays.
                                    Article 2(2)3
(2)  to encourage cooperation and           (2)    to encourage cooperation and
     exchanges of knowhôw between                  exchanges of know-how by
     partners involved in training:                establishing networks between
     training institutions, the                    partners involved.in training:
     professional sector and                       training institutions, the
     businesses.                                   professional sector and
                                                   businesses, and by developing the
                                                   training of instructors.
 ---pagebreak---                                         Article 34
Recipients of Community support                Recipients of Community support
involved in implementing the measures          involved in implementing the measures
laid down in the Annçx must provide a          laid down in the Annex must provide a
significant proportion of the funding (at      significant proportion of the funding (at
least 50%). In duly justified exceptional      least25%).
cases this percentage may be reduced to
as low as 25%.
Community funding shall be determined
in relation to the cost and nature of each
measure envisaged.
Thefinancialreference amount for
implementing the programme for the
period referred to in Article 1 shall be
ECU 45 million.
The annual appropriations shall be
authorized by the budgetary authority in
accordance with the current financial
perspective.
                      Article 6(4), second subparagraph (new)3
                                              The report shall in particularshow the ?
                                              added value generated on the basis of
                                              the financial support provided by the
                                              Community and the social and economic
                                              impact
                       Annex, point 2.2, second subparagraph
                                              2.2 Funding of up to 75% of total
                                              training costs will be within a
                                             'framework of joint funding with public
                                              and/or private partners.
 ---pagebreak---                  PARLIAMENT AMENDMENTS NOT INCLUDED
                         IN THERE-EXAMINED PROPOSAL
Amendment 4 (Article 2 (2a) (new)
"2a. to ensure that together with the initatives taken by the audivisual industry, a skill
base adequate to the industry's needs and offering reasonable opportunities to those
wishing to enrol on training courses is established in each Member State."
Amendment 5 (Article 3, 2nd, 3rd arid 4th indents)
"Exceptions to this principle mav be considered in order to encourage cooperation and
exchanges of know-how between the partners involved in training.
Community funding shall be determined in relation to the cost and nature of each
measure envisaged. The ceilings shall be laid down in the Annex.
The imdget for the implementation of the programme shall be ECU 58 million.
The budgetary authority shall determine the annual appropriations, taking into account the
principles of sound financial management referred to in Article 2 of the Financial
Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities."
Amendment 7 (Annex, point 1.1) (new)
" 1.1 Training in production, direction and writing
This training should pave the wav for exchanges of know-how and experience between
audiovisual industry professionals (producers, directors and screenplay writersV'
Amendment 8 (Annex, point 1.2a) (new)
" 1.2a Training to develop a European cultural perspective
This training shall be aimed at developing the capacity of professionals to understand the
European cultural dimension of audiovisual works so that thev can develop their ability
to address a European, not merely a national, audience.
Amendment 9 (Annex, point 2.1, first subparagraph)
"2.1 In implementing me programme, the Commission will work closely with the
Member States. It will also consult the partners concerned. It will ensure that the
professionals participating in the programme reflect their balanced selection, according
to criteria guaranteeing equal opportunities (and under detailed monitoring and evaluation
procedures) and that their participation reflects adequately Europe's cultural diversity."
 ---pagebreak--- Amendment 11 (Annex, point 1.2b) (new)
"1.2b. Continuing training via practical participation in production protects.
Professionals should be given the means to facilitate entry into the European audiovisual
industry for graduates of professional training institutes.
                                                                 ;
The operations will cover the following:
       promoting programmes and training institutes in which students cooperate with
       European audiovisual firms:
       promoting the networking of training measures and the mobility of graduates of
       audiovisual training institutes bv carrying out practical work with firms in other
       Member States."
 ---pagebreak---                                        NOTES
1.   Parliament amendment 1:
     "Whereas the rules, programmes and investment incentives should be coordinated
     with institutions such as the Council of Europe and Unesco, and special
     consideration should be given to the interests of the countries of Central and
     Eastern Europe."
2.   Parliament amendment 2:
   • "-      utilization and development of new multimedia, cinema and television
             technologies for the production of programmes with high commercial and
             artistic added value, supplementing basic training in the audiovisual
             professions;
             writing of screenplays and exchanges of information and experience in the
             areas of linear and interactive narration."
3.   Parliament amendment 3:
     "(2) To encourage cooperation and exchange of knowhow by establishing
     networks between partners involved in training: training institutions, the
     professional sector and businesses, and by developing teacher training, taking into
     account those aspects likely to encourage a better understanding of audiovisual
     language and stimulate creativity and taking into account appropriate links with
     all levels of the education system."
     These networks must give priority to exchanges of persons in order to improve
     knowledge of the market and firms working in the cinematographic industry in
     Europe."
4.   Parliament amendment 5:
     "Recipients of Community support involved in implementing the measures laid
     down in the Annex must provide a significant proportion of the funding (at least
     25%). Exceptions to this principle may be considered in order to encourage
     cooperation and exchanges of knowhow between the partners involved in training.
     Community funding shall be determined in relation to the cost and nature of each
     measure envisaged. The ceilings shall be laid down in the Annex.
     The budget for the implementation of the programme shall be ECU 58 million.
     Thé budgetary authority shall determine the annual appropriations, taking into
     account the principles of sound financial management referred to in Article 2 of
     the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European
     Communities."
5.   Parliament amendment 6:
     "This report shall in particular show the added value created on the basis of the
     financial support provided by the Community and the impact on the creation of
     jobs."
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                    ISSN Q254-1475
                                                            COM(95) 725 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                   04 16 10
                                     Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-755-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-98459-7
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