Community action programme 1997-1998 in the fields of books and reading, ARIANE

OBJECTIVE : the establishment of a Community action programme in the field of books, reading and aid for translation. COMMUNITY MEASURE: European Parliament and Council Decision 2085/97/EC establishing a support programme, comprising aid for translation, in the field of books and reading (ARIANE). CONTENT : the ARIANE programme is established for a period of 2 years from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1998 and is allocated a budget of ECU 7 million for the period under consideration. It seeks to support and complement the actions of the Member States in the area in question while respecting the principle of subsidiarity and the cultural diversity of the Member States. It covers the following areas of intervention: 1) aid for the translation of novels, short stories, essays, literary narratives, plays and poetry, etc. which are representative both of the Member State where the works originate and of the literary trends of the 20th Century. Priority is given to applications from small publishing houses and to works written in less-widely used languages. Aid is also granted to well-known or recognised theatrical works, with priority given to recent 20th-century literary works and to the translation of reference works (history of art, human sciences, etc.); 2) aid for cooperative measures which seek to promote and to facilitate public access to books and reading (improved access to literature, improved dissemination of books and exchanges between persons engaged in the book trade in areas of common interest); 3) aid for the training of persons in the dissemination of European literature (essentially exchange grants); 4) specific complementary measures which seek to improve cultural cooperation in the field of books and reading (study, research, etc.); 5) Aristéion Prize: annual Community contribution to the European Literature Prize and the European Translation Prize; 6) participation by third countries in certain ARIANE actions relating mainly to the dissemination in these countries of literature from Member States. The programme is implemented by the Commission with the aid of a committee of mixed competence according to the subject matter (advisory and management). The Commission will endeavour to establish complementarity with other compatible Community measures (particularly with SOCRATES, LEONARDO, RAPHAEL and KALEIDOSCOPE). ARIANE is open to the associated countries of eastern Europe and to Cyprus and Malta and other non-member countries with which the Community has signed association or cooperation agreements which include cultural clauses. Cooperation is also sought with UNESCO and with the Council of Europe. One year after implementation, the Commission will submit to the European Parliament and to the Council an assessment report on ARIANE containing appropriate proposals for measures to be taken on the basis of the experience which has been acquired. An annex describes in detail the eligible actions and the procedures to be followed for access to Community financing. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 24/10/1997. �