Article 1 
Programme objective 1. This Decision establishes a Community action programme to support bodies working in the field of active European citizenship and to promote actions in this field. The programme shall have the following objectives: (a) to promote and disseminate the values and objectives of the European Union; (b) to bring citizens closer to the European Union and its institutions and to encourage them to engage more frequently with its institutions; (c) to involve citizens closely in reflection and discussion on the construction of the European Union; (d) to intensify links and exchanges between citizens from the countries participating in the programme, notably by way of town-twinning arrangements; (e) to stimulate initiatives by the bodies engaged in the promotion of active and participatory citizenship. 2. The activities supported by the programme seek to support the operation and to promote the actions of the bodies pursuing the programme's objectives in accordance with the criteria set out in the Annex. 3. The programme shall start on 1 January 2004 and shall end on 31 December 2006. Article 2 Access to the programme To be eligible for a Community grant for an action, bodies shall satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex. The action concerned must be in accordance with the principles underlying Community activity in the field of active citizenship. To be eligible for an operating grant for the ongoing work programme of a body pursuing an aim of general European interest in the field of active citizenship or an objective forming part of the European Union's activities in this area, bodies shall satisfy the requirements of the Annex and be so structured as to accommodate actions having a potential impact throughout the European Union. Article 3 Access to the programme for the acceding States, the EFTA/EEA countries and the candidate countries for accession to the European Union Participation in actions under the programme may be opened to bodies established in: (a) the acceding States which signed the Treaty of Accession on 16 April 2003; (b) the EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement; (c) Romania and Bulgaria, the conditions for participation for which to be laid down in accordance with the Europe Agreements, their additional protocols and the decisions of the respective Association Councils; (d) Turkey, the conditions for participation to be laid down in accordance with the Framework Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Turkey on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Turkey in Community programmes(5). Article 4 Selection of beneficiaries 1. Operating grants for the ongoing work programme of a body pursuing an aim of general European interest in the field of active citizenship, or an objective forming part of the European Union's activities in this area, shall be awarded in accordance with the overall criteria laid down in the Annex. 2. Grants for actions specified in the programme shall be awarded in accordance with the overall criteria laid down in the Annex. Actions shall be selected by means of a call for proposals. Article 5 Award of the grant Grants under the different actions of the programme shall be awarded in compliance with the provisions set out in the relevant part of the Annex. Article 6 Financial provisions The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 2004 to 2006 shall be EUR 72 million. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. Article 7 Monitoring and evaluation No later than 31 December 2007, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the achievement of the programme's objectives. This report shall be based, inter alia, on an external evaluation report which must be available no later than the end of 2006 and which shall appraise at least the overall pertinence and coherence of the programme, the effectiveness of its execution (preparation, selection, implementation of the actions) and the overall and individual effectiveness of the various actions in terms of achievement of the objectives set out in Article 1 and in the Annex. Article 8 Final provisions For grants awarded in 2004 under sections 1 and 2 of the Annex, it will be possible for the period of eligibility of expenditure to start on 1 January 2004, provided that the expenditure does not precede the date on which the grant application was lodged or the date on which the beneficiary's budget year starts. For such grants, on an exceptional basis, the agreements referred to in Article 112(2) of the Financial Regulation can be signed not later than 30 June 2004. Article 9 Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2004. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2004. For the Council The President B. Cowen (1) Opinion delivered on 20 November 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ C 122, 9.5.1988, p. 38. (3) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. (4) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25). (5) OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 29.
Article 2 
Access to the programme To be eligible for a Community grant for an action, bodies shall satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex. The action concerned must be in accordance with the principles underlying Community activity in the field of active citizenship. To be eligible for an operating grant for the ongoing work programme of a body pursuing an aim of general European interest in the field of active citizenship or an objective forming part of the European Union's activities in this area, bodies shall satisfy the requirements of the Annex and be so structured as to accommodate actions having a potential impact throughout the European Union. Article 3 Access to the programme for the acceding States, the EFTA/EEA countries and the candidate countries for accession to the European Union Participation in actions under the programme may be opened to bodies established in: (a) the acceding States which signed the Treaty of Accession on 16 April 2003; (b) the EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement; (c) Romania and Bulgaria, the conditions for participation for which to be laid down in accordance with the Europe Agreements, their additional protocols and the decisions of the respective Association Councils; (d) Turkey, the conditions for participation to be laid down in accordance with the Framework Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Turkey on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Turkey in Community programmes(5). Article 4 Selection of beneficiaries 1. Operating grants for the ongoing work programme of a body pursuing an aim of general European interest in the field of active citizenship, or an objective forming part of the European Union's activities in this area, shall be awarded in accordance with the overall criteria laid down in the Annex. 2. Grants for actions specified in the programme shall be awarded in accordance with the overall criteria laid down in the Annex. Actions shall be selected by means of a call for proposals. Article 5 Award of the grant Grants under the different actions of the programme shall be awarded in compliance with the provisions set out in the relevant part of the Annex. Article 6 Financial provisions The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 2004 to 2006 shall be EUR 72 million. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. Article 7 Monitoring and evaluation No later than 31 December 2007, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the achievement of the programme's objectives. This report shall be based, inter alia, on an external evaluation report which must be available no later than the end of 2006 and which shall appraise at least the overall pertinence and coherence of the programme, the effectiveness of its execution (preparation, selection, implementation of the actions) and the overall and individual effectiveness of the various actions in terms of achievement of the objectives set out in Article 1 and in the Annex. Article 8 Final provisions For grants awarded in 2004 under sections 1 and 2 of the Annex, it will be possible for the period of eligibility of expenditure to start on 1 January 2004, provided that the expenditure does not precede the date on which the grant application was lodged or the date on which the beneficiary's budget year starts. For such grants, on an exceptional basis, the agreements referred to in Article 112(2) of the Financial Regulation can be signed not later than 30 June 2004. Article 9 Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2004. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2004. For the Council The President B. Cowen (1) Opinion delivered on 20 November 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ C 122, 9.5.1988, p. 38. (3) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. (4) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25). (5) OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 29.
Article 3 
Access to the programme for the acceding States, the EFTA/EEA countries and the candidate countries for accession to the European Union Participation in actions under the programme may be opened to bodies established in: (a) the acceding States which signed the Treaty of Accession on 16 April 2003; (b) the EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement; (c) Romania and Bulgaria, the conditions for participation for which to be laid down in accordance with the Europe Agreements, their additional protocols and the decisions of the respective Association Councils; (d) Turkey, the conditions for participation to be laid down in accordance with the Framework Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Turkey on the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Turkey in Community programmes(5). Article 4 Selection of beneficiaries 1. Operating grants for the ongoing work programme of a body pursuing an aim of general European interest in the field of active citizenship, or an objective forming part of the European Union's activities in this area, shall be awarded in accordance with the overall criteria laid down in the Annex. 2. Grants for actions specified in the programme shall be awarded in accordance with the overall criteria laid down in the Annex. Actions shall be selected by means of a call for proposals. Article 5 Award of the grant Grants under the different actions of the programme shall be awarded in compliance with the provisions set out in the relevant part of the Annex. Article 6 Financial provisions The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 2004 to 2006 shall be EUR 72 million. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. Article 7 Monitoring and evaluation No later than 31 December 2007, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the achievement of the programme's objectives. This report shall be based, inter alia, on an external evaluation report which must be available no later than the end of 2006 and which shall appraise at least the overall pertinence and coherence of the programme, the effectiveness of its execution (preparation, selection, implementation of the actions) and the overall and individual effectiveness of the various actions in terms of achievement of the objectives set out in Article 1 and in the Annex. Article 8 Final provisions For grants awarded in 2004 under sections 1 and 2 of the Annex, it will be possible for the period of eligibility of expenditure to start on 1 January 2004, provided that the expenditure does not precede the date on which the grant application was lodged or the date on which the beneficiary's budget year starts. For such grants, on an exceptional basis, the agreements referred to in Article 112(2) of the Financial Regulation can be signed not later than 30 June 2004. Article 9 Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2004. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2004. For the Council The President B. Cowen (1) Opinion delivered on 20 November 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ C 122, 9.5.1988, p. 38. (3) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. (4) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25). (5) OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 29.
Article 4 
Selection of beneficiaries 1. Operating grants for the ongoing work programme of a body pursuing an aim of general European interest in the field of active citizenship, or an objective forming part of the European Union's activities in this area, shall be awarded in accordance with the overall criteria laid down in the Annex. 2. Grants for actions specified in the programme shall be awarded in accordance with the overall criteria laid down in the Annex. Actions shall be selected by means of a call for proposals. Article 5 Award of the grant Grants under the different actions of the programme shall be awarded in compliance with the provisions set out in the relevant part of the Annex. Article 6 Financial provisions The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 2004 to 2006 shall be EUR 72 million. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. Article 7 Monitoring and evaluation No later than 31 December 2007, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the achievement of the programme's objectives. This report shall be based, inter alia, on an external evaluation report which must be available no later than the end of 2006 and which shall appraise at least the overall pertinence and coherence of the programme, the effectiveness of its execution (preparation, selection, implementation of the actions) and the overall and individual effectiveness of the various actions in terms of achievement of the objectives set out in Article 1 and in the Annex. Article 8 Final provisions For grants awarded in 2004 under sections 1 and 2 of the Annex, it will be possible for the period of eligibility of expenditure to start on 1 January 2004, provided that the expenditure does not precede the date on which the grant application was lodged or the date on which the beneficiary's budget year starts. For such grants, on an exceptional basis, the agreements referred to in Article 112(2) of the Financial Regulation can be signed not later than 30 June 2004. Article 9 Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2004. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2004. For the Council The President B. Cowen (1) Opinion delivered on 20 November 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ C 122, 9.5.1988, p. 38. (3) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. (4) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25). (5) OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 29.
Article 5 
Award of the grant Grants under the different actions of the programme shall be awarded in compliance with the provisions set out in the relevant part of the Annex. Article 6 Financial provisions The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 2004 to 2006 shall be EUR 72 million. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. Article 7 Monitoring and evaluation No later than 31 December 2007, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the achievement of the programme's objectives. This report shall be based, inter alia, on an external evaluation report which must be available no later than the end of 2006 and which shall appraise at least the overall pertinence and coherence of the programme, the effectiveness of its execution (preparation, selection, implementation of the actions) and the overall and individual effectiveness of the various actions in terms of achievement of the objectives set out in Article 1 and in the Annex. Article 8 Final provisions For grants awarded in 2004 under sections 1 and 2 of the Annex, it will be possible for the period of eligibility of expenditure to start on 1 January 2004, provided that the expenditure does not precede the date on which the grant application was lodged or the date on which the beneficiary's budget year starts. For such grants, on an exceptional basis, the agreements referred to in Article 112(2) of the Financial Regulation can be signed not later than 30 June 2004. Article 9 Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2004. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2004. For the Council The President B. Cowen (1) Opinion delivered on 20 November 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ C 122, 9.5.1988, p. 38. (3) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. (4) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25). (5) OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 29.
Article 6 
Financial provisions The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 2004 to 2006 shall be EUR 72 million. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. Article 7 Monitoring and evaluation No later than 31 December 2007, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the achievement of the programme's objectives. This report shall be based, inter alia, on an external evaluation report which must be available no later than the end of 2006 and which shall appraise at least the overall pertinence and coherence of the programme, the effectiveness of its execution (preparation, selection, implementation of the actions) and the overall and individual effectiveness of the various actions in terms of achievement of the objectives set out in Article 1 and in the Annex. Article 8 Final provisions For grants awarded in 2004 under sections 1 and 2 of the Annex, it will be possible for the period of eligibility of expenditure to start on 1 January 2004, provided that the expenditure does not precede the date on which the grant application was lodged or the date on which the beneficiary's budget year starts. For such grants, on an exceptional basis, the agreements referred to in Article 112(2) of the Financial Regulation can be signed not later than 30 June 2004. Article 9 Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2004. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2004. For the Council The President B. Cowen (1) Opinion delivered on 20 November 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ C 122, 9.5.1988, p. 38. (3) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. (4) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25). (5) OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 29.
Article 7 
Monitoring and evaluation No later than 31 December 2007, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the achievement of the programme's objectives. This report shall be based, inter alia, on an external evaluation report which must be available no later than the end of 2006 and which shall appraise at least the overall pertinence and coherence of the programme, the effectiveness of its execution (preparation, selection, implementation of the actions) and the overall and individual effectiveness of the various actions in terms of achievement of the objectives set out in Article 1 and in the Annex. Article 8 Final provisions For grants awarded in 2004 under sections 1 and 2 of the Annex, it will be possible for the period of eligibility of expenditure to start on 1 January 2004, provided that the expenditure does not precede the date on which the grant application was lodged or the date on which the beneficiary's budget year starts. For such grants, on an exceptional basis, the agreements referred to in Article 112(2) of the Financial Regulation can be signed not later than 30 June 2004. Article 9 Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2004. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2004. For the Council The President B. Cowen (1) Opinion delivered on 20 November 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ C 122, 9.5.1988, p. 38. (3) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. (4) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25). (5) OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 29.
Article 8 
Final provisions For grants awarded in 2004 under sections 1 and 2 of the Annex, it will be possible for the period of eligibility of expenditure to start on 1 January 2004, provided that the expenditure does not precede the date on which the grant application was lodged or the date on which the beneficiary's budget year starts. For such grants, on an exceptional basis, the agreements referred to in Article 112(2) of the Financial Regulation can be signed not later than 30 June 2004. Article 9 Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2004. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2004. For the Council The President B. Cowen (1) Opinion delivered on 20 November 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ C 122, 9.5.1988, p. 38. (3) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. (4) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25). (5) OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 29.
Article 9 
Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2004. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2004