RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the Council common position for adopting a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing for the period 2007-2013 the programme "Europe for Citizens" to promote active European citizenship

11.10.2006 - (9575/1/2006 – C6‑0316/2006 – 2005/0041(COD)) - ***II

Committee on Culture and Education
Rapporteur: Hannu Takkula

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the Council common position for adopting a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing for the period 2007-2013 the programme "Europe for Citizens" to promote active European citizenship

(9575/1/2006 – C6‑0136/2006 – 2005/0041(COD))

(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Council common position (9575/1/2006 – C6‑0316/2006),

–   having regard to its position at first reading[1] on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2005)0116)[2],

–   having regard to Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Rule 62 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Culture and Education (A6‑0342/2006),

1.  Approves the common position as amended;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

Council common position	Amendments by Parliament
Amendment 1 Article 1, paragraph 2, point (d)
(d) enhancing mutual understanding between European citizens respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.	(d) enhancing tolerance and mutual understanding between European citizens respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.
Amendment 2 Article 16, paragraph 1
This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.	This Decision shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Amendment 3 Annex, Action 1, paragraph 6
As an indication, at least 47 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action.	As an indication, at least 45 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action.
Amendment 4 Annex, Action 2, paragraph 6
As an indication, approximately 29 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action.	As an indication, approximately 31 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action.

• [1]  Texts Adopted, 5.4.2006, P6_TA(2006)0127..
• [2]  Not yet published in OJ.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The European Parliament adopted its resolution on this programme in first reading on 5 April 2006. In September 2006 Council adopted its common position. In many aspects Parliament and Council share similar ideas. However, it became clear that a few amendments should be tabled in order to restore some additional elements of Parliament's first reading. The amendments tabled by the rapporteur in this recommendation have been negotiated with and agreed upon by the Finnish Council Presidency. A swift conclusion of the procedure in second reading will therefore be possible. This will enable the Commission to start implementing the programme on time.

Budget

Following the agreement on the Financial Perspectives 2007-2013, the total budget of the programme was fixed at EUR 190 Mio (2004 figures). The rapporteur recommends modifying the allocation of the budget proposed in the common position. He would like to lower the amount foreseen for action 1 from 47% to 45% in order to have a slightly better funding for action 2 which could receive 31% instead of 29%. In its first reading, Parliament had suggested 40% for Action 1 and 38% for action 2.

Educational and amateur sports projects

Since action 2 is especially appropriate for funding educational projects on Europe, its values and its cultures, the rapporteur sees it as important to raise the budget for this action. The inclusion of such educational projects, which also may target providers of non-formal and non-degree-based education, is a new element of the programme and will strengthen its effectiveness as such projects reach out to the woman and man in the street who do not participate in formal education schemes and who are not interested in other more formal activities funded through this programme.

Also, the inclusion of amateur sport organisations will help to extent the scope of the programme and to reach people who might not be interested in the other parts of the programme. Amateur sport connects people throughout the EU through joint sports activities. Besides the sporting aspects of such events, people involved learn a lot about each other, the differences of cultures as well as the common values they share. Such events allow for a particularly emotional experience of living together in Europe.

Both aspects had been supported by Parliament in its first reading.

Objective of the programme and access

As regards the objective of the programme, the rapporteur, by adding the strengthening of tolerance in Art 1.2 (d) and together with recital 5, wishes to ensure that the projects funded through this programme contribute to an active citizenship which promotes mutual respect and intercultural dialogue and which fights racism, xenophobia and discrimination.

The Council, through recital 7, agreed to Parliament's request in first reading that this programme shall be open to all nationals of the participating countries and also to legal residents from third countries. This is an important element to support integration and mutual understanding.

Memorials

The rapporteur would like to stress that the inclusion of the new action 4 in the programme, introduced by Parliament in its first reading and destined to keep alive the memories of the crimes committed by the Nazi and Stalinist regimes, was supported by the Council. In the eyes of the rapporteur this action creates an important link to the fundamental values of tolerance and democracy the EU is built upon.

Designated organisations

The Council in its common position introduced a phasing-out of funding for the nine organisations which so far are entitled to receive permanent structural support. After three years these organisations will have to compete via calls for proposals with other candidates which request funding for their organisations and projects. The rapporteur supports this approach as it leads to greater transparency in the selection process and fairer chances for all. In the future the selection will more than ever be based on merits. At the same time the phasing-out grants organisations concerned enough time to find alternative funding schemes.

PROCEDURE

Title	Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing for the period 2007-2013 the programme "Europe for Citizens" to promote active European citizenship
References	9575/1/2006 – C6-0316/2006 – 2006/0041(COD)
Date of Parliament’s first reading – P number	5.4.2006	P6_TA(2006)0127
Commission proposal	COM(2005)0116 – C6-0101/2005
Amended Commission proposal
Date receipt of common position announced in plenary	28.9.2006
Committee responsible   Date announced in plenary	CULT 28.9.2006
Rapporteur(s)   Date appointed	Hannu Takkula 20.9.2006
Previous rapporteur(s)
Discussed in committee	9.10.2006
Date adopted	10.10.2006
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	22 1 0
Members present for the final vote	Maria Badia I Cutchet, Christopher Beazley, Ivo Belet, Guy Bono, Marie-Hélène Descamps, Věra Flasarová, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Vasco Graça Moura, Lissy Gröner, Ruth Hieronymi, Bernat Joan i Marí, Manolis Mavrommatis, Ljudmila Novak, Doris Pack, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Christa Prets, Pál Schmitt, Nikolaos Sifunakis, Hannu Takkula, Henri Weber, Thomas Wise, Tomáš Zatloukal
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Reino Paasilinna
Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote
Date tabled	11.10.2006
Comments (available in one language only)	...