REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of Cultural Heritage
16.11.2016 - (COM(2016)0543 – C8‑0352/2016 – 2016/0259(COD)) - ***I
Committee on Culture and Education
Rapporteur: Mircea Diaconu
(Simplified procedure – Rule 50(2) of the Rules of Procedure)
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of Cultural Heritage
(COM(2016)0543 – C8‑0352/2016 – 2016/0543(COD))
(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2016)0543),
– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 167 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C8‑0352/2016),
– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 12 October 2016[1],
– having regard to the letter from the Committee on Regional Development,
– having regard to Rules 59 and 50(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture and Education and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0340/2016),
1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;
2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another text;
3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.
Amendment 1 Proposal for a decision Citation 4 | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions16 , |
Having regard to the resolution of the Committee of the Regions, |
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16 OJ C , , p. . |
16 OJ C , , p. . |
Amendment 2 Proposal for a decision Recital 11 | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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(11) Cultural heritage can have an important role for community cohesion at a time when cultural diversity is increasing in European societies. New participatory and intercultural approaches to heritage policies and educational initiatives that attribute equal dignity to all cultural heritages have the potential to increase trust, mutual recognition and social cohesion. |
(11) Cultural heritage can have an important role for community cohesion at a time when cultural diversity is increasing in European societies. Sites that have been awarded the European Heritage Label have a strong European dimension as they have been selected for their role in European history. As such, they symbolise European ideals, values, history and integration, and they bring the Union and its citizens closer together. Together with the European Capitals of Culture, these sites increase European citizens' sense of belonging to a common cultural area. Therefore, complementarities with the European Year of Cultural Heritage should be sought. New participatory and intercultural approaches to heritage policies and educational initiatives that attribute equal dignity to all cultural heritages, while respecting the freedom of the arts, in accordance with Article 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, have the potential to increase trust, mutual recognition and social cohesion. |
Amendment 3 Proposal for a decision Article 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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1. In line with the objectives of the European Agenda for Culture, the overall objectives of the European Year shall be to encourage and support — notably through the exchange of experience and good practices — the efforts of the Union, the Member States, regional and local authorities to protect, safeguard, re-use, enhance, valorise and promote the European cultural heritage in the European Union (EU). In particular: |
1. The main objective of the European Year is the celebration of European cultural heritage as a shared resource, resulting from a centuries-old history and the intertwining of the Member States as well as European peoples. In line with the objectives of the European Agenda for Culture, the other objectives of the European Year shall be to encourage and support - notably through the exchange of experience and good practices - the efforts of the Union, the Member States, regional and local authorities to protect, safeguard, re-use, enhance, valorise and promote the European cultural heritage in the European Union (EU). In particular: |
Amendment 4 Proposal for a decision Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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(b) It shall enhance the contribution of European cultural heritage to the economy and the society, through its direct and indirect economic potential. This includes the capacity to underpin the cultural and creative industries and inspire creation and innovation, promote sustainable tourism, enhance social cohesion and generate long-term employment. |
(b) It shall enhance the contribution of European cultural heritage to the economy and the society, through its direct and indirect economic potential. This includes the capacity to underpin the cultural and creative industries, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as small-scale and large-scale projects, and inspire creation and innovation, promote sustainable tourism, enhance social cohesion and generate long-term employment. |
Amendment 5 Proposal for a decision Article 3 – paragraph -1 (new) | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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-1. In the first quarter of 2017, the Commission shall set up a working group involving the European Parliament and relevant stakeholders. By 31 December 2017, the working group shall present a work plan detailing the activities foreseen for 2018, including the corresponding budgetary allocations, as well as the visual identity for the European Year. A number of flagship initiatives shall be identified by the working group and implemented in the framework of the European Year. |
Amendment 6 Proposal for a decision Article 4 – title | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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Coordination at national level |
Coordination at Member State level |
Amendment 7 Proposal for a decision Article 4 – paragraph 1 | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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Each Member State shall appoint a national coordinator responsible for organising its participation in the European Year. The coordinator shall ensure the coordination of relevant activities at national level. |
The competent authorities from the Member States shall work together with the Union institutions in order to guarantee the proper implementation of the European Year and to multiply its impact through additional activities, community involvement and dissemination actions. Each Member State shall appoint a coordinator responsible for organising its participation in the European Year. The coordinator shall ensure the coordination of relevant activities at Member State level. |
Amendment 8 Proposal for a decision Article 5 – paragraph 1 | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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The Commission shall convene meetings of the national coordinators in order to coordinate the running of the European Year and to exchange information regarding its implementation at national and European level. |
The Commission shall convene meetings of the coordinators at Member State level and representatives of the European Parliament in order to coordinate the running of the European Year and to exchange information regarding its implementation at Member State and Union level. The coordination at Union level of the European Year shall have a transversal approach within the Commission ensuring the participation of all relevant Directorates General under the coordination of the Directorate General for Education and Culture with a view to creating synergies between the various Union programmes and initiatives funding projects in the field of cultural heritage, and to better disseminating information on the European Year. |
Amendment 9 Proposal for a decision Article 5 a (new) | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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Article 5 a |
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Involvement of civil society |
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The structure of the European Year shall allow for the active participation of professional organisations operating in the field of cultural heritage, of existing transnational cultural networks and of interested NGOs and cultural associations and, in particular, of youth organisations. |
Amendment 10 Proposal for a decision Article 7 – paragraph -1 (new) | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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-1. A dedicated article within the general budget of the Union shall be established for the European Year. This Article shall include the funds foreseen for the preparation of the European Year, its implementation and actions contributing to the European Year's long-term sustainability. The overall funding in this Article shall be EUR 15 million. |
Amendment 11 Proposal for a decision Article 7 – paragraph -1 a (new) | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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-1a. The indicative breakdown by year shall be as follows: EUR 1 million in 2017, EUR 13 million in 2018 and EUR 1 million in 2019. Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority. |
Amendment 12 Proposal for a decision Article 7 – paragraph 1 | |
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Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment |
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Co-financing at European level of activities in support of the European Year shall be in accordance with the applicable rules, and within the existing possibilities for priority setting on an annual or multiannual basis, to existing programmes, in particular the Creative Europe programme. Where appropriate, other programmes and policies, within their existing legal and financial provisions, may also support the European Year. |
1. The activities organised in the framework of the European Year may be co-financed through dedicated grants from national, regional and local authorities in the Member States and through flexible funding mechanisms such as public-private partnerships or crowdfunding. Where appropriate, other programmes and policies, within their existing legal and financial provisions, may also support the European Year. |
- [1] OJ C xx of xx.10.2016, p. x.
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETS ON FINANCIAL COMPATIBILITY
Ms Silvia Costa
Chair
Committee on Culture and Education
BRUSSELS
Subject: Opinion on questions concerning the financial compatibility of the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of Cultural Heritage (COM(2016)543 – C8‑0352/2016 – 2016/0259(COD))
Dear Ms Costa,
The present proposal was referred to the Committee on Budgets for opinion on 7 September 2016. After assessing the proposal, the coordinators of the Committee on Budgets decided on 15 September 2016 to take up questions concerning the proposal's financial compatibility with the MFF, in accordance with Rule 41(4) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.
The Committee considered the above question at its meeting of 11 October 2016 and, despite a number of serious concerns raised, decided in favour of the financial compatibility of the above-mentioned legislative proposal, which aims to promote the role of European cultural heritage as a pivotal component of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, as well as enhance its contribution to the economy and society.
In its proposal, the Commission suggests implementing the European Year of Cultural Heritage through several EU programmes, namely Creative Europe, the European structural and investment funds, Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ and Europe for Citizens. Implementation of the European Year over its entire lifetime is estimated at a total cost of EUR 4 million in commitment and payment appropriations, to be funded within existing budget limits, by drawing exclusively on the envelope of the Culture sub-programme of Creative Europe. Since the European Year was not planned at the time when MFF envelopes were agreed and no additional funding is sought for it in the existing financial programming, which is indicative in character, the very real concern exists that this European Year may divert funding from other actions under the Culture sub-programme.
As you know very well, Creative Europe is a relatively small programme with a wide scope and a high level of ambition. The Committee believes that the current implementation rates of 100% at year-end, both in commitments and payments, as well as the invariably high oversubscription rate clearly demonstrate the overstretched nature of the programme’s resources. Carving out EUR 4 million from an already thinly spread financial envelope will only aggravate this situation.
This is why the Committee has voted, in its position on the Budget 2017, to create a specific budget line to support the European Year, with EUR 1 million in commitment and payment appropriation to launch preparations in 2017. With the creation of a dedicated line, the Committee wants to send the clear signal that Parliament is strongly in favour of a successful and ambitious European Year on Cultural Heritage, but not at the expense of current and future actions under Creative Europe’s Culture sub-programme. Therefore, funding for it should be ring-fenced. Further, the Committee voted not only to restore Council’s cuts to all Creative Europe’s budget lines, but also to reinforce its funding by a total of EUR 41,6 million in commitments above Draft Budget, in order to alleviate the high strain on the programme.
If supported by the plenary vote on 26 October, this would give the budget rapporteur a strong mandate in the negotiations with the Council. Please be assured that our Committee will do its utmost to arrive at an acceptable outcome of the budget negotiations in this regard, in coordination with your Committee. I would like to request that you keep us informed of any developments regarding the proposal’s budgetary aspects in the course of the procedure of adopting the Parliament’s position and during the negotiations with the Council.
At its meeting of 11 October 2016, the Committee on Budgets agreed on the above points and accordingly decided unanimously to recommend that the lead rapporteur raise this concern about the proposal's financial compatibility with the Commission and the Council and follow up on these matters during the negotiations in close coordination with the general rapporteur for the Budget 2017 Jens Geier and myself.
The Committee on Budgets would be most grateful if you could annex this letter to the final report of the Committee on Culture and Education.
Yours sincerely,
Jean Arthuis
ANNEX: REGI SUGGESTIONS IN FORM OF A LETTER
Ms Silvia Costa
Chair
Committee on Culture and Education
European Parliament
ASP 15G306
Brussels
Dear Ms Costa,
Subject: European Year of Cultural Heritage
On 8 September 2016 the REGI Committee coordinators agreed that the Committee would draw an opinion on the CULT legislative report on the Commission proposal to designate 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage. We have now acknowledged the CULT committee decision to use the simplified procedure provided in Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure. Under this condition, REGI cannot give an opinion. Please find hereby our suggestions in the form of this letter as the REGI committee’s majority contribution on the matter with the reference to the Commission text to amend (COM (2016)543). I hope that you will feel able to agree with this approach.
Suggestions:
1) ( Art. 7) the European Year of Cultural Heritage could also be funded, in the context of the European Structural and Investments Funds (ESIF), with integrated cultural heritage projects, when they are complying with the ESIF regulation and are coherent with the strategies agreed in the Partnership Agreements;
2) (Art. 7 ) stresses the importance of developing synergies between the EU’s Structural and Investments funds to support the European year of Cultural Heritage; calls on the Commission to help Member States on integrating the European Year of Cultural Heritage into local and regional economic development projects, in order to achieve maximum effectiveness;
3) (Recitals 24 a new) Stresses the importance of cross-border cultural projects that could contribute to increasing economic and social cohesion and encourage inclusion; calls in this context for measures to be taken to strengthen and expand support for funding through public-private partnership agreements;
Yours sincerely,
Iskra MIHAYLOVA
CC: Mr Mircea Diaconu, Rapporteur
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
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Title |
European Year of Cultural Heritage |
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References |
COM(2016)0543 – C8-0352/2016 – 2016/0259(COD) |
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Date submitted to Parliament |
30.8.2016 |
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Committee responsible Date announced in plenary |
CULT 12.9.2016 |
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Committees asked for opinions Date announced in plenary |
BUDG 12.9.2016 |
REGI 12.9.2016 |
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Not delivering opinions Date of decision |
BUDG 15.9.2016 |
REGI 14.10.2016 |
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Rapporteurs Date appointed |
Mircea Diaconu 8.9.2016 |
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Simplified procedure - date of decision |
5.9.2016 |
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Financial endowment amended Date of BUDG opinion |
BUDG 11.10.2016 |
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Discussed in committee |
11.10.2016 |
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Date adopted |
08.11.2016 |
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Date tabled |
17.11.2016 |
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