Article 1 Establishment of the programme
A programme of Community action in the field of consumer policy covering the period from 31 December 2006 to 31 December 2013, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programme’, is hereby established.
Article 2 Aim and objectives
1. The aim of the Programme shall be to complement, support and monitor the policies of the Member States and to contribute to protecting the health, safety and economic and legal interests of consumers, as well as to promoting their rights to information, to education and to organise themselves in order to safeguard their interests. 2. The aim referred to in paragraph 1 shall be pursued through the following objectives: (a) to ensure a high level of consumer protection, notably through improved evidence, better consultation and better representation of consumers' interests; (b) to ensure the effective application of consumer protection rules, in particular through enforcement cooperation, information, education and redress. These objectives shall be achieved through a combination of actions and instruments drawn from the list set out in Annex I according to the priorities set out in the annual work plan referred to in Article 7(2)(a).
Article 3 Funding
1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period from 31 December 2006 to 31 December 2013 is hereby set at EUR 156 800 000. 2. Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework.
Article 4 Financial contributions
1. Financial contributions by the Community shall not exceed the following levels: (a) 50 % of the costs of actions jointly financed by the Community and one or more Member States, or by the Community and the competent authorities of the third countries participating pursuant to Article 8; except in the case of actions of exceptional utility, the Community contribution to the costs of which shall not exceed 70 %; (b) 85 % of the costs of actions intended to develop integrated European Master Degree courses in consumer issues; (c) 50 % of expenditure for the functioning of European consumer organisations; (d) 95 % of expenditure for the functioning of European consumer organisations representing consumer interests in the development of standards for products and services at Community level. 2. Financial contributions by the Community may take the form of: (a) scholarship grants for individual mobility of teachers and students in the framework of integrated European Master Degree courses in consumer issues. The management of these grants may be entrusted to the Erasmus National Agencies of the Life Long Learning programme; (b) travel and subsistence allowances for the exchange of enforcement officials. 3. The criteria for assessing whether actions exhibit exceptional utility within the meaning of paragraph 1(a) shall be established in advance in the annual work plan. Actions of exceptional utility shall benefit, in particular, consumers from Member States which acceded to the European Union on or after 1 May 2004. 4. The renewal of financial contributions set out in paragraphs 1(c) and 1(d) shall be exempted from the principle of gradual decrease. 5. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2, financial contributions by the Community may also be given in the form of flat-rate or lump sum financing where this is suited to the nature of the actions concerned as defined in the annual work plan. In the case of flat-rate or lump sum financing, the percentage limits provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply, although co-financing is still required.
Article 5 Beneficiaries
The classes of beneficiaries eligible for the financial contributions established in Article 4 are set out in Annex II.
Article 6 Administrative and technical assistance
1. The financial allocation for the Programme may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities which are required directly for the management of the Programme and the achievement of its objectives; in particular, studies, meetings, information and publication actions, expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information exchange, together with all other technical and administrative assistance expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the Programme. 2. The financial allocation for the Programme may also cover technical and administrative assistance expenses necessary to ensure the transition between the Programme and the measures adopted under Decision No 20/2004/EC. If necessary, appropriations may be entered in the budget beyond 2013 to cover these expenses, to enable the management of actions not completed by 31 December 2013.
Article 7 Implementation
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the Programme. Actions in pursuit of the aim and objectives set out in Article 2 shall make full use of appropriate available methods of implementation including, in particular, direct or indirect implementation by the Commission on a centralised basis. 2. The procedure referred to in Article 10(2) shall apply to the adoption of: (a) the annual work plan for the implementation of the Programme, setting out; — priorities and actions to be undertaken, including the allocation of financial resources, — selection and award criteria and criteria for the percentage of Community financial contributions, — use made of flat rate and lump sum financing, and — the planned timing of calls for tenders, joint actions and calls for proposals; (b) the arrangements, including selection and award criteria, for the implementation of the actions referred to in Article 4(1)(a). 3. The Commission shall inform the Committee referred to in Article 10 of the actions undertaken in the implementation of the Programme.
Article 8 Participation of third countries
The Programme shall be open to the participation of: (a) the EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions established in the EEA Agreement; (b) third countries, in particular countries to which the European Neighbourhood Policy applies, countries that are applying for, are candidates for, or are acceding to, membership of the European Union, and the western Balkan countries included in the stabilisation and association process, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the respective bilateral or multilateral agreements with those countries establishing the general principles for their participation in Community programmes.
Article 9 Monitoring, evaluation and dissemination of results
1. The Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States, shall monitor the implementation of the actions of the Programme in the light of its objectives. It shall report thereon to the Committee referred to in Article 10, and shall keep the European Parliament and the Council informed thereof. 2. At the request of the Commission, Member States shall submit to it information on the implementation and impact of the Programme. 3. The Commission shall ensure that the Programme is evaluated three years after its start, and following its end. The Commission shall communicate the results of those evaluations, accompanied by its comments, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The Commission shall make the results of actions undertaken pursuant to this Decision publicly available.
Article 10 Committee procedure
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee. 2. 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. 3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.
Article 12 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 .