Article 1 Establishment and duration
1. This Decision establishes the Culture Programme, a single multi-annual programme for Community measures in the field of culture open to all cultural sectors and all categories of cultural operators (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programme’). 2. The Programme shall be implemented for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.
Article 2 Budget
1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period referred to in Article 1 is hereby set at EUR 400 million. 2. Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework.
Article 3 Objectives
1. The general objective of the Programme shall be to enhance the cultural area shared by Europeans and based on a common cultural heritage through the development of cultural cooperation between the creators, cultural players and cultural institutions of the countries taking part in the Programme, with a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship. The Programme shall be open to the participation of non-audiovisual cultural industries, in particular small cultural enterprises, where such industries are acting in a non-profit-making cultural capacity. 2. The specific objectives of the Programme are: (a) to promote the transnational mobility of cultural players; (b) to encourage the transnational circulation of works and cultural and artistic products; (c) to encourage intercultural dialogue.
Article 4 Fields of action
1. The objectives of the Programme shall be pursued through the implementation of the following measures, as described in the Annex: (a) support for cultural actions, as follows: — multi-annual cooperation projects, — cooperation measures, — special actions; (b) support for bodies active at European level in the field of culture; (c) support for analyses and the collection and dissemination of information and for activities maximising the impact of projects in the field of European cultural cooperation and European cultural policy development. 2. These measures shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions set out in the Annex.
Article 5 Provisions concerning third countries
1. The Programme shall be open to the participation of the following countries: (a) EFTA countries which are members of the EEA, in accordance with the provisions of the EEA Agreement; (b) candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy for accession to the Union, in accordance with the general principles and with the general conditions and procedures for the participation of these countries in the Community programmes established in the framework agreements; (c) the countries of the Western Balkans in accordance with the procedures defined with these countries following the framework agreements providing for their participation in Community programmes. Provided that the conditions are met and additional appropriations are paid, the countries referred to in this paragraph shall participate fully in the Programme. 2. The Programme shall also be open to cooperation with other third countries which have concluded association or cooperation agreements with the Community which include cultural clauses, on the basis of supplementary appropriations and specific procedures to be laid down. The countries of the Western Balkans referred to in paragraph 1(c) which do not wish to benefit from full participation in the Programme may benefit from cooperation with the Programme under the conditions laid down in this paragraph.
Article 6 Cooperation with international organisations
The Programme shall permit joint action with international organisations competent in the field of culture, such as UNESCO or the Council of Europe, on the basis of joint contributions and in accordance with the various rules prevailing in each institution or organisation for the realisation of the measures listed in Article 4.
Article 7 Complementarity with other Community instruments
The Commission shall ensure a link between the Programme and other Community instruments, particularly those relating to the Structural Funds and those in the fields of education, vocational training, research, information society, citizenship, youth, sport, languages, social inclusion, EU external relations and combating all forms of discrimination.
Article 8 Implementation
1. The Commission shall implement the Community actions which form the subject of the Programme, in accordance with the Annex. 2. The following measures shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 9(2): (a) the annual work plan, including priorities, selection criteria and procedures; (b) the annual budget and the breakdown of funds among the different actions of the Programme; (c) the procedures for monitoring and evaluating the Programme; (d) the financial support to be provided by the Community under Article 4(1)(a), first indent: amounts, duration, distribution and beneficiaries. 3. All other measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 9(3).
Article 9 Committee
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof. The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months. 3. 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. 4. The committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.
Article 10 Cultural contact points
1. The cultural contact points as defined in section I.3.1 of the Annex shall act as implementing bodies for the dissemination of information on the Programme at national level, having regard to Article 54(2)(c) and (3) of the Financial Regulation. 2. The cultural contact points shall comply with the following criteria: (a) have an adequate number of staff, with professional and linguistic capacities appropriate for work in an environment of international cooperation; (b) have an appropriate infrastructure, in particular as regards information and communications technology; (c) operate in an administrative context which enables them to carry out their tasks satisfactorily and to avoid conflicts of interest.
Article 11 Financial provisions
1. Financial aid shall take the form of grants to legal persons. Grants may in certain cases be awarded to natural persons under the terms of Article 114(1) of the Financial Regulation. The Commission may also award prizes to natural or legal persons for actions or projects implemented under the Programme. Depending on the nature of the action, flat-rate financing and/or the application of unit cost rates may be authorised. 2. The Commission may decide, in accordance with the characteristics of the beneficiaries and the nature of the actions, whether to exempt them from verification of the professional competencies and qualifications required to complete the proposed action or work programme. 3. Specific activities by the European Capitals of Culture designated pursuant to Decision 1419/1999/EC may receive a grant or a prize.
Article 12 Contribution to other Community objectives
The Programme shall contribute to the strengthening of the transversal objectives of the Community, in particular by: (a) promoting the fundamental principle of freedom of expression; (b) encouraging greater awareness of the importance of contributing to sustainable development; (c) seeking to promote mutual understanding and tolerance within the European Union; (d) contributing to the elimination of all discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Particular attention shall be given to coherence and complementarity between the Programme and Community policies in the field of cultural cooperation with third countries.
Article 13 Monitoring and evaluation
1. The Commission shall ensure regular monitoring of the Programme against its objectives. The results of the monitoring and evaluation process shall be used when implementing the Programme. Monitoring shall include in particular the drawing up of the reports referred to in paragraph 3(a) and (c). The specific objectives of the Programme may, on the basis of the results of monitoring reports, be revised in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty. 2. The Commission shall ensure regular, external and independent evaluation of the Programme. 3. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: (a) an interim evaluation report on the results obtained and on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of the Programme not later than 31 December 2010; (b) a communication on the continuation of the Programme not later than 31 December 2011; (c) an ex post evaluation report not later than 31 December 2015.
Article 14 Transitional provisions
Actions initiated before 31 December 2006 on the basis of Decisions No 508/2000/EC and No 792/2004/EC shall continue to be administered until their closure in accordance with the provisions of these Decisions. The committee set up under the terms of Article 5 of Decision No 508/2000/EC shall be replaced by the committee provided for in Article 9 of this Decision.
Article 15 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 .