Culture 2000 programme: extention to 2006

To recall, the European Parliament adopted 2 amendments at its 16 December 2003 plenary session. The Commission has adopted these two amendments. The following amendment was accepted in full : - this amendment aims to introduce a new recital emphasising the fact that the revision of the financial perspective in view of enlargement provides for an increased ceiling for Heading 3 which has to be respected by the legislative authority when extending existing programmes. On the other hand, the Commission adopted the second amendment only in principle. It concerns the following : - the provision of full detailed assessment report on the "Culture 2000" Programme report referred to in this amendment would in fact make sense, as it would look back over a 4 year implementation period; this part is therefore acceptable from the point of view of sound programme management. However, the Commission cannot agree that the presentation of this report should constitute a condition for the consideration by Parliament of the proposal for a new programme (meaning it would not be considered until the end of 2005, although it is due to be presented in the first quarter of 2004). The Commission therefore proposes that a new recital be worded as follows: The Commission should present a full and detailed assessment report on the "Culture 2000" Programme not later than 31 December 2005; this report may, where relevant, provide useful elements in the context of the consideration by the European Parliament and the Council of the future proposal for a new framework programme for Community action on culture, announced for 2004 and planned to start in 2007.�