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

The committee unanimously adopted the report on the programme to support artistic and cultural activities with a European dimension (Kaleidoscope 2000), thereby setting in motion the codecision procedure which should allow the Union to take an important step towards establishing its cultural dimension and implementing Article 128 of the Maastricht Treaty. The "Kaleidoscope 2000" programme was implemented between 1992 and 1994; however, its budget (ECU 9 million over three years) was too small to satisfy the consistent number of applications for subsidies (3,635 of which only 388 could be funded). With a budget of ECU 68 million for the period 1996-2000, the "Kaleidoscope" programme should help to promote artistic and cultural creation, support cultural projects based on real European cooperation, promote cultural exchanges, disseminate culture in Europe and create jobs - especially for young people - in this sector. Adopting the draft report tabled by Mr Corrado AUGIAS (PSE, I) and the amendments to the Commission's proposal for a decision, the MEPs focused on international cooperation, access to culture for disadvantaged regions and people and the need to integrate financial decisions in the annual budgetary procedure from the second year of operation. Finally, the Committee on Culture proposed to make the designation "European City of Culture" dependent upon the adoption of an ad hoc programme in which the European Parliament was fully involved.�