Community action programme Socrates: financial framework 1995-1999

OBJECTIVE: to increase the financial framework for the Socrates programme by ECU 70 million for the period to 31 December 1999. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Decision 576/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision 819/95/EC establishing the Community action programme Socrates. SUBSTANCE: Given the considerable success of the Socrates Programme since it started on 1 January 1995 and the ever-increasing demand for participation in its activities, Parliament and the Council, in accordance with the joint Council/Commission/Parliament Declaration of Decision 819/95/EC establishing Socrates, agree to modify the budget allowed for the programme. The initial financial framework of ECU 850m is increased to ECU 920m for the years 1998-1999. This increase will make it possible to avoid compromising the effectiveness of the programme's current operations, as its impact could be seriously affected if the percentage of projects supported fell below a critical threshold, and will enable some associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus to participate fully in the programme from 1998 onwards. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 14.03.1998 �