Kaleidoscope: Community action programme 1996-1998 to support artistic and cultural activities with a European dimension

The rapporteur, Mr Augias (PSE, I), was critical of the Council’s predisposition for renationalising cultural policy. He also regretted that Parliament had failed to make the ‘European City of Culture’ action a stand-alone programme. However, as far as the programme’s duration and budget were concerned he welcomed the compromise that had been reached and the specific clause on renewal that had been obtained by Parliament. Finally, he recalled that Parliament had succeeded in introducing a new paragraph concerning programme initiatives linked to Europe Day on 9 May. Commissioner Monti stated that the adoption of the Kaleidoscope programme would help complete the other two procedures relating to the ‘Raphael’ programme on cultural heritage and the ‘Ariane’ programme on books and reading, which were based on Article 128 of the Maastricht Treaty. He further announced that the programme in question would shortly be launched by way of an invitation to tender published in the Official Journal, and that its management would be simple and efficient, which was just what citizens wanted.