Community action programme Socrates: financial framework 1995-1999

OBJECTIVE: to increase the financial framework for the SOCRATES programme by ECU 50 million for the period up to 31 December 1999. SUBSTANCE: Since its entry into force on 1 January 1995 the SOCRATES programme has been very successful and in the two years of its existence has produced significant results (as indicated in the assessment report attached to the proposal). Pursuant to the joint European Parliament and Council declaration of 6 March 1995 attached to decision 819/95/EC establishing the SOCRATES programme, the Commission has submitted in addition to the assessment report the proposals it considers appropriate for the modification of the programme, in this case restricted to the increase of the financial framework from the initial ECU 850 million to ECU 900 million. The reasons for this increase of ECU 50 million are given by the Commission in its assessment report which states that after 1997 the resources allocated to SOCRATES will no longer permit achievement of the objectives listed in the decision (for certain parts of the programme the amount requested by applicants is around nine times the annual budget available, etc.). As the inadequacy of budgetary resources is increasing all the time, the Commission calls for a limited increase of ECU 50 million (an increase in the financial framework of some 6%) for 1998 and 1999. �