Brussels, 08/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Council has adopted a five-year programme and EUR 15 million in order to promote cooperation between lawyers practising in civil cases, as well as a better knowledge of European law by these practitioners. Proposed in May 2001 by the Commission, the regulation determines a general framework for the choice of projects that will be supported by Community funds. The projects should, in the civil law area, cover judicial cooperation (promoting mutual recognition, fostering approximation of legislation, etc.), ensure there is greater mutual knowledge of the legal and judiciary systems of Member States, help application of Community cooperation instruments and improve public information. The project may be either directly conducted by the Commission or proposed by the Member States or non-governmental organisations. The Member State projects should be between at least three of them (participation is open to candidate countries) and propose training, courses, exchanges, studies and research or seminars. According to the financial index proposed by the Commission, the budget should be EUR 3 million annually during 5 years, from 2002 to 2006. Cofunding of projects by the Community budget should not in principle exceed 60% but could reach 80% "in exceptional circumstances". This initiative follows up the Grotius programme, adopted in October 1996, extended for one year last year, pending the adoption of this new regulation.