Strasbourg, 26/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the Parliament approved five second-reading recommendations from the culture and education committee. Following agreement with the European Commission and Council, the text recommends approval of the Council's common position without amendment. Although the rapporteurs highlighted and criticised, with greater or lesser degrees of force, the funding allocated to the various programmes, they nonetheless used a quicker procedure to confirm the agreement negotiated between the Parliament, Council and Commission so as to get the programmes up and running by 2007. Apart from the MEDIA 2007 and Culture 2007 programmes (see yesterday's EUROPE), MEPs adopted recommendations on the following programmes:
Integrated action programme on Education and Lifelong Learning - Rapporteur Doris Pack (EPP-ED, Germany). Common position adopted without amendment. In adopting the recommendation, Parliament backed the Commission's proposal to bring together all types of learning, from childhood to retirement, in one single programme for the period 2007-2013. with a budget of €6.97 billion, this integrated programme will succeed the current Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci and eLearning programmes and will be responsible for four pillars or sub-programmes (Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci and Gruntvig) along with the new Jean Monnet programme (study, research and teaching about European integration). “This new programme will be an appropriate response to the current gaps in the framework of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs,” said Ms Pack. She also expressed her pleasure that neighbouring countries, such as Switzerland, Turkey and the Western Balkan countries, would be able to take part in the programme: “the programme … will help people to better understand the European Union, facilitate community life within the Union, reinforce inter-cultural dialogue and let us learn greater tolerance. In reality, it is the best communication strategy for the European Union,” she said. Education Commissioner Jan Figel was pleased that the Parliament had followed in the footsteps of the Council in adopting the action programme. “It is a very concrete example of the strategic cooperation that has been established between the Member States and EU institutions in education and training,” he said.
“Europe for Citizens” programme - rapporteur Hannu Takkula (ALDE, Finland). Common position adopted without amendment. This is a programme to “promote active European citizenship” and has a budget of €235 million. Mr Takkula said, “I wish to ensure that the projects funded through this programme contribute to active citizenship which promotes mutual respect and inter-cultural dialogue and which fights racism, xenophobia and discrimination”. He was pleased to note that amateur sports clubs would take part in the programme. “Besides the sport and health benefits of such clubs, participants learn about each others' different cultures, as well as the common values they share. Such experiences stimulate unity and give citizens a reason to want to live together,” he observed.
“Youth in Action” Programme - rapporteur Lissy Gröner. Common position adopted without amendment. “Youth in Action”, which has been allocated a budget of €785 million, wants to be simpler and more flexible than its predecessor. It will be aimed at young people from 15 to 28 (from 13 to 30 for some specific actions), as the Parliament called for in first reading. It will also be available to non-EU countries. Projects in five areas will be funded: “Young people for Europe”, “European Voluntary Service”, “Young people for the World”, “Community Education workers and support systems” and “Support for political cooperation in the area of youth”. Its legal basis will contain a flexibility clause allowing it to be adapted to the new priorities which might appear. At a time of increasing scepticism towards Europe among some groups of young people, it is important to bring them closer to Europe by highlighting youth exchanges and voluntary service, stressed Ms Gröner. The programme was the appropriate instrument for encouraging tolerance and solidarity between young European citizens, she added. (il)