Culture: grants to bodies active at European level, 2004-2006 action programme

PURPOSE : to provide a basic act for the funding of bodies active at European level in the field of culture. CONTENT : the European Union is committed to promoting European cultural networks. For several years support has been provided for this commitment under headings in Part A of the EU's budget. They include co-financing for the operating costs of: - The European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages (EBLUL) and the Mercator information and documentation centres; - European and international organisations committed to preserving Nazi concentration camp sites as historical memorials - Organisation of European cultural interest. The adoption of an EU Council Regulation on the financial regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and the decision to base the structure of the Commission budget on an Activity Based Budgeting (ABB) approach require basic acts to be adopted for a number of grants hitherto financed under appropriations entered in administrative appropriations of the Commission section of the budget. The purpose of this proposal is to adopt an act providing a basis for grants towards the promotion of European cultural networks. It is set to last for a period of five years (2004-2008). The amounts provided for are largely based on those allocated in the budget of the European Union for the 2003 financial year. The total amount proposed is EUR 30.92 million.�