Active European citizenship: Europe for Citizens programme 2007-2013

The Council's common position retains the main elements of the Commission's original proposal. In general the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission have similar views regarding this Decision.

The budget of EUR 190 million (at 2004 prices, and subject to adjustment to take account of inflation) was agreed by the three institutions in the context of the inter-institutional agreement on the Financial framework for 2007-2013.

New elements in the common position

The Council has taken up in its common position the idea of the European Parliament to add a new fourth action line relating to active European remembrance. The Council has also responded positively to the Parliament's suggestion to add three additional "designated bodies" (making nine in all) to receive grants under the programme. However, to ensure an appropriate balance, the special status of these nine bodies is phased-out after three years.

Regarding the indicative budget breakdown, the Council has sought to emphasise further the relative importance of Action 1 (town-twinning and citizens' projects) and, like the Parliament, has sought to reduce spending on the management of the programme.

Regarding programme implementation and comitology, the Council has extended the use of the management procedure to also cover certain cases of financial support.

European Parliament amendments

The Council has sought in its common position to take account of the European Parliament's concerns and priorities and was able to accept most of Parliament's amendments. However, the Council chose not to accept the amendments concerning:

-          the legitimacy of the institutions as this was considered unnecessary;

-          the granting of structural support to the legally vague notion of "associations or networks";

-          the programme budget which was addressed and agreed by the three institutions in the context of the agreement on the Financial Perspectives;

-          singling out events organised by twinning sports clubs, given that other sectors were not specifically mentioned in this part of the text, however a reference to sports organisations has been added in the Annex;

-          the budget breakdown, where the Council preferred to favour Action 1, leaving the percentage allocated to Action 2 similar to that originally proposed by the Commission.