You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Committee Publications > All Select Committee Publications > Commons Select Committees > European Scrutiny > European Scrutiny
Select Committee on European Legislation Fourth Report


CULTURE IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

16.   We consider that the following raises questions of political importance, but make no recommendation for its further consideration:--

Department of National Heritage

17624
--
--
 European Parliament amendments to Council Common Position on the draft Decision for a support programme in the field of books and reading -- ARIANE.
Legal base: Article 128; co-decision; unanimity.

        Introduction

        16.1  A Common Position on this draft Decision was agreed by the Council on 27 June 1996[33]. The European Parliament proposed eight amendments at Second Reading. In an oral response to the EP, Commissioner Oreja opposed two (1 and 3), but accepted the others. No re-examined proposal from the Commission has yet been deposited, but as the Presidency is aiming to take the proposed amendments to conciliation on 28 November, we are prepared to consider them without.

        The document and the Government's view

        16.2  In her Explanatory Memorandum (dated 19 November) the Secretary of State for National Heritage (Mrs Bottomley) says that the Commissioner and the UK Government are opposed to these amendments, which would change the title of the programme to suggest that it is primarily a translation programme, and increase the budget from 7 million ECU (£5.5 million) to 10.5 million ECU (£8.2 million). The UK is also opposed to amendments 2 and 7 which, the Minister says, significantly dilute the role of the management committee, and to amendment 6 which, it is concerned, would give priority to applications from "small independent publishing houses".

        16.3  The Minister tells us that the UK is prepared to accept the three other amendments on the grounds that they do not have a significant impact on the structure, workings or cost of the programme.

        Conclusion

        16.4  We cleared this proposal on 21 May 1996 before the European Parliament suggested that the budget be increased. Since the amendment concerned is acceptable neither to the Commission nor to the UK Government, we would not expect it to be conceded in conciliation. There would be no point in recommending debate on the document, and we therefore clear it.
33.  (17167)--; see HC 51-xx (1995-96), paragraph 10 (21 May 1996). Back

 

© Parliamentary copyright 1996
Prepared 3rd December 1996