Cultural heritage: Community action programme 1997-2000, Raphaël

Welcoming the compromise reached on the programme’s financing, the rapporteur stated that the margin of manoeuvre left in the hands of the budgetary authority would allow a certain amount of flexibility in the management of these funds, particularly with regard to allowing the annual budget to be progressive. He also hoped that the initial statements about the importance of culture would finally be accompanied by a real financial effort in this area. He then said that it was at Parliament’s request that the Commission had made a statement in which it promised to present, as soon as possible, a framework programme which would encompass ‘Kaleidoscope’ (support for artistic and cultural activities), ‘Ariane’ (books, reading and translation) and ‘Raphael’. This framework programme could be operational by the end of 1998 when the ‘Kaleidoscope’ and ‘Ariane’ programmes would come to an end. Commissioner Bangemann noted that the Commission would also have preferred better funding. However, he felt that, once the programme had proved its worth, more funding could subsequently be made available. The Commissioner finally announced that the Commission was preparing a communication on the effects of culture on the creation of jobs.