(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2005)0467)(1),

–   having regard to Article 251(2) and the first indent of Article 151(5) of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C6-0311/2005),

–   having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture and Education and the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (A6-0168/2006),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Considers that the financial envelope indicated in the legislative proposal must be compatible with the ceiling of heading 3b of the new Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) and points out that the annual amount will be decided within the annual budgetary procedure in accordance with point 37 of the IIA of 17 May 2006;

3.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend the proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

4.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first indent of Article 151(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee(1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions(2),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(3),

Whereas:

(1)  The Treaty establishing the European Community gives it the task of creating an ever closer union between the peoples of Europe and of contributing to the flowering of the cultures of Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and also highlighting their common cultural heritage.

(2)  The combined effect of the successive enlargements of the Union, the increased mobility resulting from the single market, old and new migratory flows, more significant exchanges with the rest of the world through trade, education, leisure and globalisation in general, is increasing interactions between European citizens, and all those living in the European Union, and the various cultures, languages, ethnic groups and religions in Europe and beyond.

(3)  European citizens, and all those living in the Union temporarily or permanently, should be able to acquire the knowledge, qualifications and aptitudes to fulfil their potential in a diverse, pluralist, solidarity-based and dynamic society, not only in Europe but also in the world.

(4)  At the heart of the European project, culture and intercultural dialogue are the tools par excellence for learning to live together in harmony and can contribute to improving EU relations with the outside world.

(5)  Intercultural dialogue thus contributes towards achieving a number of the Union's strategic priorities, in particular:

(6)  Intercultural dialogue is an important dimension of many Community policies and instruments in the fields of education, youth, culture, citizenship and sport, the fight against discrimination and social exclusion, women's rights and gender equality, lifelong learning, combating racism and xenophobia, the fight against human trafficking, policy on asylum and the integration of immigrants, human rights and sustainable development, audiovisual policy and research. At the same time, it is an increasing factor in the European Union's external relations, particularly with regard to the acceding and candidate countries, the countries of the western Balkans, the candidate countries for association agreements with the EU, the partner countries of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP)(4) and other third countries, particularly developing countries.

(7)  Building on this diversified basis of Community experiences and initiatives, involving each citizen, man and woman, on an equal footing and European society as a whole in an intercultural dialogue approach, in particular through the structured cooperation described in Article 3, is a fundamental step. It complements measures aimed at creating a European identity, the content of which may be enriched by the principle of inclusion without assimilation. Embracing differences shapes the various aspects of belonging to a community. The promotion of learning 'intercultural civility' must contribute to that. 'Intercultural civility' is the complement to and a necessary condition for the implementation of true equality of opportunity for all.

(8)  For the purpose of the present decision, the notion of "active European citizenship" does not cover only citizens of the European Union as defined in Article 17 of the EC Treaty, but also any individual living permanently or temporarily in the European Union.

(9)  The common values of the European Union are those defined in Article 6(1) of the Treaty on European Union.

(10)  It is essential to ensure complementarity and a horizontal approach in all Community, national, regional and local actions with a strong intercultural dialogue dimension, given that the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue will help to raise their profile and increase their coherence.

(11)  It should also be possible for the experience and the expertise of international organisations such as the Council of Europe to be brought to bear on the European Union's strategy to promote intercultural dialogue.

(12)  It will also be important to ensure complementarity between the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and all external aspects of promoting intercultural dialogue initiatives developed within appropriate frameworks, including with those EFTA countries which are party to the EEA agreement, the countries of the western Balkans and the partner countries of the ENP. It will be also important to ensure complementarity with any other initiative of cooperation with third countries, in particular developing countries, relevant for the objectives of intercultural dialogue of the European Year of Intercultural dialogue.

(13)  It is important, in preparation for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, to develop initiatives in connection with that dialogue based on practical and sustainable projects, particularly in the context of existing and future partnerships with third countries. Those initiatives should be highlighted in connection with the information and awareness-raising campaigns planned for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008.

(14)  This Decision is addressed to the Member States. The candidate countries should be closely associated with actions under the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue through initiatives to promote intercultural dialogue to be developed within the relevant frameworks for cooperation and dialogue, particularly in the context of the civil society dialogue between the European Union and the candidate countries(5).

(15)  This Decision lays down for the entire duration of the action, a financial envelope constituting the prime reference, within the meaning of point 37 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management(6), for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure.

(16)  Given the number of actions foreseen on a national and Community scale for all Member States, the financial envelope can be considered as the threshold value below which achievement of the objectives of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue becomes impossible.

(17)  The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(7). An advisory committee is thus considered appropriate to the type and scale of the action envisaged.

(18)  As the objectives of the action envisaged cannot be achieved to a sufficient degree by the Member States owing to the need, in particular, for multilateral partnerships and transnational exchanges on a Community scale and may therefore, owing to the dimension of the action, be better carried out at Community level, the Community may take measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity enshrined in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as laid down in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve these objectives.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Subject

The year 2008 shall be designated as the "European Year of Intercultural Dialogue".

For the purposes of this Decision, the terms 'intercultural dialogue' describes a sustained process which will be given expression and a high profile in 2008 and encompass actions continuing beyond that year.

Article 2

Objectives

1.  The overall objectives of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue shall be to contribute to:

2.  The specific objectives of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue shall be to:

Article 3

Participation in the action

In order to achieve the objectives set out in Article 2, the action established by this Decision shall be implemented primarily by means of structured cooperation with cities and with local government in the first instance, since they shoulder the bulk of the challenge of immigration and integration, and also with civil society players, such as non-governmental organisations active in the field of intercultural dialogue, socio-cultural associations, and the media. The activities shall be implemented in cooperation with the European institutions, with national, regional and local authorities, and with international bodies such as the Council of Europe and UNESCO.

Article 4

Content of measures

The measures taken in order to achieve the objectives defined in Article 2 are set out in the Annex.

Since one aspect of intercultural dialogue relates to action to combat discrimination and promote integration, the activities undertaken in 2008 shall follow on from, and complement, the actions carried out in connection with the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (2007)(8). The actions planned, at both Community and national level, shall take on board the experience gained from actions under the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.

Article 5

Implementation

The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(2).

Article 6

Cooperation by the Member States

Each Member State shall appoint a national coordination body, or an equivalent administrative body, responsible for organising that State's participation in the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Each Member State shall ensure that this body involves in an appropriate manner the various parties in intercultural dialogue at national, regional and local level. This body shall ensure the coordination, at national level, of actions relating to the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

Article 7

Committee

1.  The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of one representative from each Member State and chaired by the Commission. The national representatives shall be appointed preferably by the national coordination body referred to in Article 6.

2.  Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

Without prejudice to the procedure referred to in the first subparagraph, two representatives of the European Parliament shall attend meetings of the committee as observers.

3.  The committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

Article 8

Financial provisions

1.  Measures which are Community-wide in nature, referred to in Part A of the Annex, shall give rise to a procurement contract or the award of grants financed from the general budget of the European Union.

2.  Measures which are Community-wide in nature, referred to in Part B of the Annex, may be subsidised up to 80% of their total cost from the general budget of the European Union.

3.  The measures referred to in Part C of the Annex may be subsidised up to 80% of their total cost from the general budget of the European Union in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 9.

Article 9

Application and selection procedure

1.  Decisions on the awarding of grants shall be taken by the Commission in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(2). The Commission shall ensure a balanced distribution between the Member States and among the different fields of activity involved.

2.  Grant applications presented under Article 8(3) shall be submitted to the Commission by the body referred to in Article 6.

Article 10

International organisations

For the purposes of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the Commission shall cooperate with appropriate international organisations, in particular, with the Council of Europe and UNESCO, taking great care to ensure transparency in cooperative relations and the visibility of the EU's participation.

Article 11

Role of the Commission

1.  The Commission shall ensure coherence between the measures laid down in this Decision and other Community actions and initiatives.

2.  The Commission shall take care to involve the candidate countries in the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, on the basis of their participation in a number of Community programmes including an intercultural dialogue dimension and by developing specific initiatives in appropriate frameworks, particularly in the context of civil society dialogue between the European Union and the candidate countries.

3.  The Commission shall ensure complementarity between the measures taken to achieve the objectives of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and initiatives likely to be developed within the relevant cooperation and dialogue frameworks with those EFTA countries which are party to the EEA agreement, the countries of the western Balkans and the partner countries of the ENP.

4.  The Commission shall also ensure complementarity with any other initiative of cooperation with third countries, in particular developing countries, relevant for the objectives of intercultural dialogue of the European Year.

Article 12

Budget

1.  The financial envelope for the implementation of this Decision for the period between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2008 shall be EUR 10 000 000. Preparatory action shall be limited to 30% of the overall budget.

2.  Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework.

Article 13

Protection of Community financial interests

1.  The Commission shall ensure that, when actions financed under this Decision are implemented, the financial interests of the Community are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and by the recovery of the amounts unduly paid and, if irregularities are detected, by effective, proportional and dissuasive penalties, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests(9), Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities(10) and with Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)(11).

2.  With regard to the Community actions financed under this Decision, the notion of irregularity referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 shall mean any infringement of a provision of Community law or any infringement of a contractual obligation resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the European Union or budgets managed by them, by an unjustified item of expenditure.

3.  The Commission shall reduce, suspend or recover the amount of financial assistance granted for an action if it finds irregularities, particularly non-compliance with the provisions of this Decision, the individual decision or the contract granting the financial support in question, or if it transpires that, without Commission approval having being sought, the action has been subjected to significant change which conflicts with its nature or with its implementing conditions.

4.  If the time limits have not been observed or if only part of the allocated financial assistance is justified by the progress made with implementing an action, the Commission shall request the beneficiary to submit observations within a specified period. If the beneficiary does not give a satisfactory answer, the Commission may cancel the remaining financial assistance and demand repayment of sums already paid.

5.  Any amount unduly paid shall be repaid to the Commission. Interest shall be added to any sums not repaid in due time under the conditions laid down in Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002, of 25 June 2002, on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities(12).

Article 14

Surveillance

1.  The beneficiary shall submit technical and financial reports on the progress of work for any action financed under this Decision. A final report shall also be submitted within three months of the completion of the action. The Commission shall determine the form and content of the reports.

2.  For a period of five years following the last payment in respect of any action, the beneficiary of financial assistance shall keep available for the Commission all the supporting documents regarding expenditure on the action.

3.  The Commission shall take every other step necessary to verify that the actions financed are carried out properly and in compliance with the provisions of this Decision and Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002.

Article 15

Monitoring and evaluation

The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, no later than 31 December 2009, a report on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the measures laid down in Article 4 of this Decision to serve as a basis for future Union policies, measures and actions in this field.

Article 16

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 17

Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at ,

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

ANNEX

MEASURES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 4

A)  ACTIONS ON A COMMUNITY SCALE

1)  The financial resources dedicated to information and promotion campaigns shall not exceed 20% of the overall budget.

2)  Information and promotion campaigns including:

3)  Other actions:

The creation of a prize for intercultural dialogue to reward a youth project in the context of Community programmes such as Socrates, Youth and Culture, as referred to in the first indent of Article 2(2).

Consultation with transnational networks and civil society stakeholders (through instruments such as small-scale meetings, debates, surveys and studies) to assess and report on the effectiveness and impact of, and to lay the basis for long-term follow-up to, the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

4)  Financing will generally take the form of direct purchase of goods and services by means of open and/or restricted invitations to tender. It may also take the form of grants.

B)  COFINANCING OF ACTIONS ON A COMMUNITY SCALE

A limited number of emblematic actions on a European scale aimed at raising awareness, particularly among young people and women, of the objectives of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue may receive a Community grant of up to 80% of the total cost.

These actions may consist of particular events, including a Community event to open and close the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in cooperation with the Presidencies in office during 2008. They could include, in particular, participation at European level in the celebrations of 8 March and 21 May, which the General Assembly of the United Nations has proclaimed respectively International Women's Day and World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue shall be concluded with an Intercultural Forum in the European Parliament bringing together civil society and political and religious representatives.

C)  COFINANCING OF ACTIONS ON A NATIONAL SCALE

Actions at national, regional and local level with a strong European dimension may fulfil the conditions for receiving Community aid of up to 80% of the total cost.

These actions may relate in particular to the cofinancing of a national initiative per Member State.

D)  ACTIONS NOT RECEIVING ANY COMMUNITY FINANCIAL AID

The Community will grant non-financial support, including written authorisation to use the logo, once developed, and other materials associated with the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, in initiatives from public or private organisations, in so far as the latter may provide assurances to the Commission that the initiatives in question are or will be carried out during 2008 and are likely to make a significant contribution to achieving the objectives of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Initiatives organised in third countries in association or cooperation with the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, without being supported financially by it, may also receive non-financial support from the Community and use the logo and other materials associated with the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

(1) OJ C, p. (2) OJ C, p. (3) Position of the European Parliament of 1 June 2006. (4) Communication from the Commission. European Neighbourhood Policy - Strategy paper - COM(2004)0373, 12.5.2004. (5) See the Commission communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on civil society dialogue between the EU and candidate countries of 29.6.2005 – COM(2005)0290. (6) OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1. (7) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. (8) Decision No 771/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 establishing the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (2007) - towards a just society (OJ L 146, 31.5.2006, p. 1). (9) OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1. (10) OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2. (11) OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 1. (12) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.