Article 1 
This Decision establishes a vocational training programme (hereinafter referred to as 'the programme') to run from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2000. This programme, which supports and supplements action taken by Member States in full recognition of the responsibility of those States for the content and organization of vocational training programmes and cultural diversity of the countries and regions, excluding any harmonization of the laws and regulations of the Member States, has the purpose of providing professionals in the European audiovisual industry with the skills they need to exploit the European dimension of the market to the full and make use of new technology. Article 2 In the context of Article 1, the aims of the programme are: 1. to meet the needs of the industry and bolster its competitiveness by improving initial and particularly continuing training for audiovisual professionals in order to provide them with the know-how and skills they need in order to take account of the European market and other markets, notably in the field of: - economic and commercial management, including legal aspects, - utilization and development of new technologies for the production of audiovisual programmes with high commercial and artistic added value, supplementing training in the audiovisual professions, - screenplay techniques. This aim will take account of the transnational dimension through supporting the development of businesses and projects (new programmes or enhancement of the audiovisual heritage) as well as of common entrepreneurial practices; 2. to encourage cooperation and exchange of know-how by networking between partners involved in training: training institutions, the professional sector and businesses and by developing teacher training. In carrying out the objectives mentioned in points 1 and 2 of the first paragraph, particular attention shall be paid to the specific needs of countries or regions with a low production capacity and/or a restricted linguistic and geographical area, as well as the development of an independent European production and distribution sector and especially of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Article 3 Recipients of Community support involved in implementing the measures laid down in the Annex must provide a significant proportion of the funding (at least 50 %). In duly justified exceptional 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. The financial reference 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 4 1. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the programme, in accordance with the arrangements laid down in the Annex. In the performance of this task, it shall be assisted by a committee composed of two representatives from each Member State and chaired by the representative of the Commission. 2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee, for its opinion, a draft of the measure to be taken concerning: - the arrangements for the implementation of the actions provided for in the Annex, - the content of calls for proposals, the definition of criteria and procedures for the approval and selection of projects and the final choice of intermediary organizations, - questions concerning the annual internal distribution of finances within the programme, - arrangements for monitoring and evaluating the operations. Furthermore, the representative of the Commission shall also submit, for its opinion, the examination of all Community allocations of more than ECU 200 000 per year; this threshold can be reviewed by the Committee in the light of experience. 3. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote. The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event: - the Commission shall defer application of the measures which it has decided upon for a period of two months, - the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in the previous subparagraph. 4. The Commission may consult the Committee on any other question concerning the implementation of the programme. The Committee shall deliver its opinion within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account. The Commission representative shall keep the Committee informed in good time and on a regular basis of the financial allocation agreed in the framework of the programme (amounts, duration, internal distribution of finances, beneficiaries). Article 5 The programme shall be open to the participation of the associated countries of central and eastern Europe (CCEE) in accordance with the conditions laid down in additional protocols to the association agreements on participation in Community programmes concluded or to be concluded with those countries. This programme shall be open to the participation of Cyprus, Malta and EFTA countries members of the EEA Agreement on the basis of additional appropriations in accordance with the same rules as applied to EFTA States, in accordance with procedures to be agreed with those countries. It shall also be open to cooperation with other non-member countries which have concluded agreements containing audiovisual clauses. The arrangements for this participation or cooperation will be fixed at the appropriate time between the parties concerned. Article 6 1. The Commission shall ensure that actions under this Decision are subject to prior appraisal, monitoring and subsequent evaluation. 2. The selected beneficiaries shall submit an annual report to the Commission. 3. After the completion of projects, the Commission shall evaluate the manner in which they have been carried out and the impact of their implementation in order to assess whether the original objectives have been achieved. 4. After two years and six months of implementation of the programme and within the six months that follow this period, the Commission, after having brought the matter before the Committee in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4 (2) and (3), shall present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee an evaluation report on the results which were obtained, accompanied if need be by appropriate proposals. This report shall in particular show the added value created on the basis of the financial support provided by the Community and the socio-economic aspect. 5. When the programme has run its full term, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report of the implementation and resuls of the programme. Done at Brussels, 22 December 1995. For the Council The President L. ATIENZA SERNA (1) OJ No C 108, 29. 4. 1995, p. 4. (2) OJ No C 256, 2. 10. 1995, p. 24. (3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 16 June 1995 (OJ No C 166, 3. 7. 1995, p. 200), Council common position of 10 July 1995 (OJ No C 281, 25. 10. 1995, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 15 November 1995 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (4) OJ No C 205, 25. 7. 1994, p. 561. (5) OJ No L 298, 17. 10. 1989, p. 23. (1) OJ No L 380, 31. 12. 1990, p. 37. (2) OJ No L 340, 29. 12. 1994, p. 8.
Article 2 
In the context of Article 1, the aims of the programme are: 1. to meet the needs of the industry and bolster its competitiveness by improving initial and particularly continuing training for audiovisual professionals in order to provide them with the know-how and skills they need in order to take account of the European market and other markets, notably in the field of: - economic and commercial management, including legal aspects, - utilization and development of new technologies for the production of audiovisual programmes with high commercial and artistic added value, supplementing training in the audiovisual professions, - screenplay techniques. This aim will take account of the transnational dimension through supporting the development of businesses and projects (new programmes or enhancement of the audiovisual heritage) as well as of common entrepreneurial practices; 2. to encourage cooperation and exchange of know-how by networking between partners involved in training: training institutions, the professional sector and businesses and by developing teacher training. In carrying out the objectives mentioned in points 1 and 2 of the first paragraph, particular attention shall be paid to the specific needs of countries or regions with a low production capacity and/or a restricted linguistic and geographical area, as well as the development of an independent European production and distribution sector and especially of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Article 3 Recipients of Community support involved in implementing the measures laid down in the Annex must provide a significant proportion of the funding (at least 50 %). In duly justified exceptional 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. The financial reference 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 4 1. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the programme, in accordance with the arrangements laid down in the Annex. In the performance of this task, it shall be assisted by a committee composed of two representatives from each Member State and chaired by the representative of the Commission. 2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee, for its opinion, a draft of the measure to be taken concerning: - the arrangements for the implementation of the actions provided for in the Annex, - the content of calls for proposals, the definition of criteria and procedures for the approval and selection of projects and the final choice of intermediary organizations, - questions concerning the annual internal distribution of finances within the programme, - arrangements for monitoring and evaluating the operations. Furthermore, the representative of the Commission shall also submit, for its opinion, the examination of all Community allocations of more than ECU 200 000 per year; this threshold can be reviewed by the Committee in the light of experience. 3. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote. The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event: - the Commission shall defer application of the measures which it has decided upon for a period of two months, - the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in the previous subparagraph. 4. The Commission may consult the Committee on any other question concerning the implementation of the programme. The Committee shall deliver its opinion within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account. The Commission representative shall keep the Committee informed in good time and on a regular basis of the financial allocation agreed in the framework of the programme (amounts, duration, internal distribution of finances, beneficiaries). Article 5 The programme shall be open to the participation of the associated countries of central and eastern Europe (CCEE) in accordance with the conditions laid down in additional protocols to the association agreements on participation in Community programmes concluded or to be concluded with those countries. This programme shall be open to the participation of Cyprus, Malta and EFTA countries members of the EEA Agreement on the basis of additional appropriations in accordance with the same rules as applied to EFTA States, in accordance with procedures to be agreed with those countries. It shall also be open to cooperation with other non-member countries which have concluded agreements containing audiovisual clauses. The arrangements for this participation or cooperation will be fixed at the appropriate time between the parties concerned. Article 6 1. The Commission shall ensure that actions under this Decision are subject to prior appraisal, monitoring and subsequent evaluation. 2. The selected beneficiaries shall submit an annual report to the Commission. 3. After the completion of projects, the Commission shall evaluate the manner in which they have been carried out and the impact of their implementation in order to assess whether the original objectives have been achieved. 4. After two years and six months of implementation of the programme and within the six months that follow this period, the Commission, after having brought the matter before the Committee in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4 (2) and (3), shall present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee an evaluation report on the results which were obtained, accompanied if need be by appropriate proposals. This report shall in particular show the added value created on the basis of the financial support provided by the Community and the socio-economic aspect. 5. When the programme has run its full term, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report of the implementation and resuls of the programme. Done at Brussels, 22 December 1995. For the Council The President L. ATIENZA SERNA (1) OJ No C 108, 29. 4. 1995, p. 4. (2) OJ No C 256, 2. 10. 1995, p. 24. (3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 16 June 1995 (OJ No C 166, 3. 7. 1995, p. 200), Council common position of 10 July 1995 (OJ No C 281, 25. 10. 1995, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 15 November 1995 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (4) OJ No C 205, 25. 7. 1994, p. 561. (5) OJ No L 298, 17. 10. 1989, p. 23. (1) OJ No L 380, 31. 12. 1990, p. 37. (2) OJ No L 340, 29. 12. 1994, p. 8.
Article 3 
Recipients of Community support involved in implementing the measures laid down in the Annex must provide a significant proportion of the funding (at least 50 %). In duly justified exceptional 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. The financial reference 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 4 1. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the programme, in accordance with the arrangements laid down in the Annex. In the performance of this task, it shall be assisted by a committee composed of two representatives from each Member State and chaired by the representative of the Commission. 2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee, for its opinion, a draft of the measure to be taken concerning: - the arrangements for the implementation of the actions provided for in the Annex, - the content of calls for proposals, the definition of criteria and procedures for the approval and selection of projects and the final choice of intermediary organizations, - questions concerning the annual internal distribution of finances within the programme, - arrangements for monitoring and evaluating the operations. Furthermore, the representative of the Commission shall also submit, for its opinion, the examination of all Community allocations of more than ECU 200 000 per year; this threshold can be reviewed by the Committee in the light of experience. 3. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote. The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event: - the Commission shall defer application of the measures which it has decided upon for a period of two months, - the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in the previous subparagraph. 4. The Commission may consult the Committee on any other question concerning the implementation of the programme. The Committee shall deliver its opinion within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account. The Commission representative shall keep the Committee informed in good time and on a regular basis of the financial allocation agreed in the framework of the programme (amounts, duration, internal distribution of finances, beneficiaries). Article 5 The programme shall be open to the participation of the associated countries of central and eastern Europe (CCEE) in accordance with the conditions laid down in additional protocols to the association agreements on participation in Community programmes concluded or to be concluded with those countries. This programme shall be open to the participation of Cyprus, Malta and EFTA countries members of the EEA Agreement on the basis of additional appropriations in accordance with the same rules as applied to EFTA States, in accordance with procedures to be agreed with those countries. It shall also be open to cooperation with other non-member countries which have concluded agreements containing audiovisual clauses. The arrangements for this participation or cooperation will be fixed at the appropriate time between the parties concerned. Article 6 1. The Commission shall ensure that actions under this Decision are subject to prior appraisal, monitoring and subsequent evaluation. 2. The selected beneficiaries shall submit an annual report to the Commission. 3. After the completion of projects, the Commission shall evaluate the manner in which they have been carried out and the impact of their implementation in order to assess whether the original objectives have been achieved. 4. After two years and six months of implementation of the programme and within the six months that follow this period, the Commission, after having brought the matter before the Committee in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4 (2) and (3), shall present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee an evaluation report on the results which were obtained, accompanied if need be by appropriate proposals. This report shall in particular show the added value created on the basis of the financial support provided by the Community and the socio-economic aspect. 5. When the programme has run its full term, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report of the implementation and resuls of the programme. Done at Brussels, 22 December 1995. For the Council The President L. ATIENZA SERNA (1) OJ No C 108, 29. 4. 1995, p. 4. (2) OJ No C 256, 2. 10. 1995, p. 24. (3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 16 June 1995 (OJ No C 166, 3. 7. 1995, p. 200), Council common position of 10 July 1995 (OJ No C 281, 25. 10. 1995, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 15 November 1995 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (4) OJ No C 205, 25. 7. 1994, p. 561. (5) OJ No L 298, 17. 10. 1989, p. 23. (1) OJ No L 380, 31. 12. 1990, p. 37. (2) OJ No L 340, 29. 12. 1994, p. 8.
Article 4 
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the programme, in accordance with the arrangements laid down in the Annex. In the performance of this task, it shall be assisted by a committee composed of two representatives from each Member State and chaired by the representative of the Commission. 2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee, for its opinion, a draft of the measure to be taken concerning: - the arrangements for the implementation of the actions provided for in the Annex, - the content of calls for proposals, the definition of criteria and procedures for the approval and selection of projects and the final choice of intermediary organizations, - questions concerning the annual internal distribution of finances within the programme, - arrangements for monitoring and evaluating the operations. Furthermore, the representative of the Commission shall also submit, for its opinion, the examination of all Community allocations of more than ECU 200 000 per year; this threshold can be reviewed by the Committee in the light of experience. 3. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote. The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event: - the Commission shall defer application of the measures which it has decided upon for a period of two months, - the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in the previous subparagraph. 4. The Commission may consult the Committee on any other question concerning the implementation of the programme. The Committee shall deliver its opinion within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account. The Commission representative shall keep the Committee informed in good time and on a regular basis of the financial allocation agreed in the framework of the programme (amounts, duration, internal distribution of finances, beneficiaries). Article 5 The programme shall be open to the participation of the associated countries of central and eastern Europe (CCEE) in accordance with the conditions laid down in additional protocols to the association agreements on participation in Community programmes concluded or to be concluded with those countries. This programme shall be open to the participation of Cyprus, Malta and EFTA countries members of the EEA Agreement on the basis of additional appropriations in accordance with the same rules as applied to EFTA States, in accordance with procedures to be agreed with those countries. It shall also be open to cooperation with other non-member countries which have concluded agreements containing audiovisual clauses. The arrangements for this participation or cooperation will be fixed at the appropriate time between the parties concerned. Article 6 1. The Commission shall ensure that actions under this Decision are subject to prior appraisal, monitoring and subsequent evaluation. 2. The selected beneficiaries shall submit an annual report to the Commission. 3. After the completion of projects, the Commission shall evaluate the manner in which they have been carried out and the impact of their implementation in order to assess whether the original objectives have been achieved. 4. After two years and six months of implementation of the programme and within the six months that follow this period, the Commission, after having brought the matter before the Committee in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4 (2) and (3), shall present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee an evaluation report on the results which were obtained, accompanied if need be by appropriate proposals. This report shall in particular show the added value created on the basis of the financial support provided by the Community and the socio-economic aspect. 5. When the programme has run its full term, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report of the implementation and resuls of the programme. Done at Brussels, 22 December 1995. For the Council The President L. ATIENZA SERNA (1) OJ No C 108, 29. 4. 1995, p. 4. (2) OJ No C 256, 2. 10. 1995, p. 24. (3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 16 June 1995 (OJ No C 166, 3. 7. 1995, p. 200), Council common position of 10 July 1995 (OJ No C 281, 25. 10. 1995, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 15 November 1995 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (4) OJ No C 205, 25. 7. 1994, p. 561. (5) OJ No L 298, 17. 10. 1989, p. 23. (1) OJ No L 380, 31. 12. 1990, p. 37. (2) OJ No L 340, 29. 12. 1994, p. 8.
Article 5 
The programme shall be open to the participation of the associated countries of central and eastern Europe (CCEE) in accordance with the conditions laid down in additional protocols to the association agreements on participation in Community programmes concluded or to be concluded with those countries. This programme shall be open to the participation of Cyprus, Malta and EFTA countries members of the EEA Agreement on the basis of additional appropriations in accordance with the same rules as applied to EFTA States, in accordance with procedures to be agreed with those countries. It shall also be open to cooperation with other non-member countries which have concluded agreements containing audiovisual clauses. The arrangements for this participation or cooperation will be fixed at the appropriate time between the parties concerned. Article 6 1. The Commission shall ensure that actions under this Decision are subject to prior appraisal, monitoring and subsequent evaluation. 2. The selected beneficiaries shall submit an annual report to the Commission. 3. After the completion of projects, the Commission shall evaluate the manner in which they have been carried out and the impact of their implementation in order to assess whether the original objectives have been achieved. 4. After two years and six months of implementation of the programme and within the six months that follow this period, the Commission, after having brought the matter before the Committee in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4 (2) and (3), shall present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee an evaluation report on the results which were obtained, accompanied if need be by appropriate proposals. This report shall in particular show the added value created on the basis of the financial support provided by the Community and the socio-economic aspect. 5. When the programme has run its full term, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report of the implementation and resuls of the programme. Done at Brussels, 22 December 1995. For the Council The President L. ATIENZA SERNA (1) OJ No C 108, 29. 4. 1995, p. 4. (2) OJ No C 256, 2. 10. 1995, p. 24. (3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 16 June 1995 (OJ No C 166, 3. 7. 1995, p. 200), Council common position of 10 July 1995 (OJ No C 281, 25. 10. 1995, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 15 November 1995 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (4) OJ No C 205, 25. 7. 1994, p. 561. (5) OJ No L 298, 17. 10. 1989, p. 23. (1) OJ No L 380, 31. 12. 1990, p. 37. (2) OJ No L 340, 29. 12. 1994, p. 8.
Article 6 
1. The Commission shall ensure that actions under this Decision are subject to prior appraisal, monitoring and subsequent evaluation. 2. The selected beneficiaries shall submit an annual report to the Commission. 3. After the completion of projects, the Commission shall evaluate the manner in which they have been carried out and the impact of their implementation in order to assess whether the original objectives have been achieved. 4. After two years and six months of implementation of the programme and within the six months that follow this period, the Commission, after having brought the matter before the Committee in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4 (2) and (3), shall present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee an evaluation report on the results which were obtained, accompanied if need be by appropriate proposals. This report shall in particular show the added value created on the basis of the financial support provided by the Community and the socio-economic aspect. 5. When the programme has run its full term, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report of the implementation and resuls of the programme. Done at Brussels, 22 December 1995