Cultural heritage: Community action programme 1997-2000, Raphaël

In adopting the report by Mr Francisco Javier SANZ FERNANDEZ (PSE, E), Parliament approved the joint text from the Parliament-Council Conciliation Committee establishing a Community action programme in the field of cultural heritage (RAPHAEL). It was particularly difficult to arrive at the special agreement between the two parties, especially since the Council wanted to limit the budget to ECU 30 million for four years, while Parliament believed that ECU 86 m should have been allocated. Finally, an agreement has been made allocating appropriations of ECU 30 m which will be authorized by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective (Parliament will have a certain degree of freedom once this is non-compulsory expenditure). In addition, the programme should be reviewed two years after its introduction.