Cultural heritage: Community action programme 1997-2000, Raphaël

Stressing that the budget provision for this programme should be increased, the rapporteur, Mr Sanz Fernandez (PSE, E), wanted to see the limit set for this allocation raised to ECU 86 million instead of the ECU 30 million being proposed by the Council. He raised a number of points, stating that culture was not a luxury and that it was important to be able to pass on Europe’s cultural heritage to future generations. He also underlined that cultural activities had a role to play in the area of job creation. Commissioner Oreja stated that the Commission was opposed to the common position because the budget was clearly insufficient. Here the Commission was maintaining its initial position by limiting the budget to ECU 67 million for five years. Moreover, it was prepared to take over Amendments Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, as tabled by Parliament.