Ariane: support programme in the field of books and reading, including translation until 31 December 1999

OBJECTIVE: to extend the Ariane programme by one year to 31 December 1999. CONTENT: pending adoption of the European Community framework programme for culture for the period 2000-2004 (COD98169), which is to include all existing measures in the field of culture (including the Ariane support programme in the field of books and reading), the current Ariane programme needs to be extended by one year (from 31 December 1998 to 31 December 1999) under the same conditions as those laid down in Decision 2085/97/EC establishing the programme (COD94189) in order to ensure continuity of Community support for cultural projects in this field. From a budgetary point of view, extending the Ariane programme will imply an increase in the financial package initially provided for the programme: it is proposed to increase the financial package to EUR 10 million for the entire duration of the programme (by allocating the sum of EUR 3 million to Ariane for 1999). This amount will need to be adjusted on the basis of the final amount allocated to the programme in the 1999 budget.�