Cultural heritage: Community action programme 1997-2000, Raphaël

The Culture Committee approved a recommendation for second reading, prepared by Mr Francisco Javier SANZ FERNANDEZ, which aims to establish a cultural heritage programme (Raphaël). The Committee accepted the Council's demand to reduce the duration of the programme to 4 years, but suggested that its financial framework should be set at ECU 86 million instead of the proposed ECU 30 million, which was regarded as totally inadequate. The Committee stressed the importance to enable disadvantaged groups and regions to have an appropriate access to culture. In addition, the Committee agreed that members of the board, which will be responsible for selecting projects, should be appointed by the European Commission on proposal of the member states, and not directly by them as suggested by the Council. �