CELEX: 51988PC0803
Language: en
Date: 1988-12-05
Title: AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON AN ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE EUROPEAN TOURISM YEAR ( 1990 )

No C 19/6                           Official Journal of the European Communities                                25. 1. 89
                                                             II
                                                     (Preparatory Acts)
                                                COMMISSION
              Amended proposal for a Council Decision on an action programme for the European Tourism
                                                      Year (1990) (')
                                                    COM(88) 803 final
                 (Submitted by the Commission under Article 149 (3) of the EEC Treaty on 5 December 1988)
                                                       (89/C 19/10)
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                        well as detrimental effects for the natural and man-made
                                                                 environment and under-utilization of capital and human
                                                                 resources in the low season;
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
 Economic Community and in particular Article 235,
                                                                 Whereas it is therefore important to encourage a better
                                                                 utilization of existing tourism infrastructure and
 Having regard to the.proposal from the Commission,              equipment and that European Tourism Year should
                                                                 present a valuable opportunity of attaining this objective;
 Having regard      to  the  opinion   of   the  European
 Parliament,
                                                                 Whereas European Tourism Year can promote greater
                                                                 awareness throughout the Community of the oppor-
                                                                 tunities and benefits of all-year round tourism for the
 Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and
                                                                 regions of the Community;
 Social Committee,
Whereas the integrating role of tourism can be availed of        Whereas efforts should be made during European
 in order to promote the achievement of the large area           Tourism Year to encourage citizens of all Member
without frontiers of 1992;                                       States, especially young people, to travel abroad to
                                                                 acquire greater awareness of the reality of Europe;
Whereas tourism promotes greater mutual knowledge of
cultures and life styles of Member States among their            Whereas specific powers for this purpose are not
citizens, especially young people;                               expressly provided for in the Treaty and Article 235
                                                                 must, therefore, be invoked,
Whereas tourism represents an economic sector of major
importance for Member States of the Community;
                                                                 HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Whereas the European Parliament in its resolution of 22
January 1988 on the facilitation, promotion and                                           Article 1
financing of tourism proposed that 1990 be declared the
European Tourism Year;                                           1990 shall be declared European Tourism Year.
Whereas the Ministers responsible for tourism stressed                                    Article 2
the importance of tourism for the completion of the
internal market at their informal meetings of 6 May and         The objectives of European Tourism Year are to:
3 September 1988;
                                                                — prepare the coming of the large area without internal
Whereas the most serious problem confronting tourism                 frontiers using the integration role of tourism to
in Europe is its over-concentration in the high season               advantage,
with congestion of transport and accomodation services as
                                                                — promote greater knowledge of cultures and life styles
(') OJ No C 293, 17. 11. 1988, p. 12.                                by citizens of Member States especially the young,
 ---pagebreak--- 25. 1. 89                                  Official Journal of the European Communities                                 No C 19/7
— stress the economic importance of the tourism sector                                              Article 5
    in the completion of the internal market,
                                                                        The steering committee, shall be chaired by a represen-
— promote a better distribution of tourism over time                    tative of the Commission and comprise representatives of
    and location, the staggering of holidays, alternatives              Member States. Representatives or professional tourism
    to mass tourism and new destinations,                               organizations at Community level will be invited to
— promote increased awareness of the importance for                     participate in the work of the Committee as observers.
    tourism of a high quality environment,                              The Committee shall be consulted on the subject of the
— promote intra-Community and international tourism                     preparation and coordination of the activities mentioned
    in Europe and improve the freedom of movement for                   in Annex I.
    travellers.
These objectives will be pursued through coordinated                    At the request of the chairman or one of its members,
activities of the Community, Member States and private                  the steering committee may consider any other question
organizations.                                                          relating to the objectives mentioned in Article 2.
                              Article 3
                                                                                                     Article 6
The amount for the implementation of the programme
for European Tourism Year, within the limits of appro-                  Member States which wish to receive Community
priations included in the annual budget, is ECU 5                       financial support for the pursuit of the actions mentioned
million, subject to approval by the budgetary authority                 in Article 2 will be invited to identify projects as
or any amendment which it might make. The                               mentioned in Annex I that are suitable for Community
arrangements for financing the programme are described                  financing and to monitor their implementation and
in Annex I which forms an integral part of the present                  report to the Commission of the European Communities.
Decision.
                              Article 4                                                              Article 7
The Commission, in consultation with the steering                       The Commission shall inform the Council and the
committee, shall take appropriate measures to implement                 European Parliament of the progress of the work and
the programme, particulary in regard to the coordination                shall submit a final report on the implementation of the
of public and private tourism organizations in the                      programme to the Council and to the European
Member States.                                                           Parliament.
                                                                  ANNEX   I
                                    ACTIVITIES ENVISAGED FOR EUROPEAN TOURISM YEAR
               A. Activities without financial implications for the Community budget
                   Voluntary action to be undertaken by public and private operators in the travel/tourism sector:
                   — price reductions in transport and accomodation during the low season,
                   — use of the common logo and slogan of European Tourism Year in regular publicity campaigns,
                   — spread of information on European Tourism Year through the mass media.
                B. Activities cofinanced by the Community budget
                   1. Pilot actions by public and private bodies to encourage new approaches to promote off-season
                      tourism and cultural, rural and social tourism.
                      Estimated cost ECU 1 000 000.
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 19/8                              Official J o u r n a l of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s             25. 1. 89
              2. Actions by public and private organizations to develop travel by young persons between the ages of
                 15 and 25 aimed at greater knowledge of cultures and life-styles of other Member states.
                 Estimated cost ECU 1 000 000.
              Financial assistance of up to 40 % of the cost of the operation could be granted. Applications for grants
              should be submitted to the Commission by Member States after they have made an initial choice of
              projects on the basis of potential efficacity to attain the objectives set out in the Decision.
              The Commission after receiving the opinion of the steering committee provided for in Article 5 of the
              Decision on the applications submitted by Member States in regard to eligibility, priority and, as far as
              possible equity of distribution at Community level, will inform the Committee of its decision to support
              or reject particular projects or request additional information.
              Decisions on grants will be taken quarterly by the Commission in respect of applications received in the
              preceding quarter according to the following table:
                            Applications submitted during                                    Decisions to be taken
                                 1st   quarter   1989                                      end of   2nd quarter  1989
                                2nd    quarter   1989                                      end of    3rd quarter 1989
                                3rd    quarter   1989                                      end of    4th quarter 1989
                                4th    quarter   1989                                      end of    1st quarter 1990
                                 1st   quarter   1990                                      end of    2nd quarter 1990
                                2nd    quarter   1990                                      end of    3rd quarter 1990
              Projects selected for grants should be designated 'Community projects for European Tourism Year'.
              The competent authorities of the Member States shall have the responsibility for the control and
              carrying out of Community projects for European Tourism Year.
              On their completion, they shall submit payment applications to the Commission accompanied by a
              report on their execution and all necessary proof of costs incurred.
           C. Activities to be financed entirely from the Community budget
              1. Administrative expenses and year logo
                 — remuneration of temporary staff engaged by the Commission,
                 — rent of office and equipment for preparation of European Tourism Year
                 — logo for European Tourism Year.
                     Estimated cost 1989 ECU 300 000
                     Estimated cost 1990 ECU 500 000
              2. Competitions and prizes
                 Prizes for competitions shall be provided as follows:
                 — Best organization of welcome of tourists by a town or village in each Member State,
                     Estimated cost ECU 15 000
                 — Best welcome for young people by youth hostel or similar establishment in each Member State,
                     Estimated cost ECU 72 000
                 — Best organization, presentation and promotion of three cultural itineraries involving several
                     Member States,                                                      '
                     Estimated cost ECU 75 000
 ---pagebreak--- 25. 1. 89                         Official Journal of the European Communities                                     No C 19/9
             — Best artistic production by young people on the theme of travel in Europe:
                 — one photographic competition
                     Estimated cost ECU 45 000
                 — one short film competition
                     Estimated cost ECU 45 000
             — Best tourism display in a secondary school,
                 Estimated cost ECU 24 000
             — Best drawing of travel in Europe in a secondary or primary school,
                 Estimated cost ECU 24 000
             Total estimated cost ECU 300 000
          3. Information and publicity campaigns
             In the mass media of all Member States for off-season tourism, cultural, social und rural tourism and
             other means of information on alternative destinations.
             Estimated cost 1989 ECU 900 000
             Estimated cost 1990 ECU 1 000 000