Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 establishing the Creative Europe programme (2014 to 2020)’

(COM(2017) 385 final — 2017/0163 (COD))

(2018/C 081/30)

The Committee adopted its previous opinion on the Creative Europe programme 2014-2020 (Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013) — CCMI/098 — CES828-2012_AC — on 28 March 2012 (1).

The previous opinion fully endorsed both the content of the Commission proposal establishing the Creative Europe programme (2014-2020) and the budget increase to fund it. However, while the Committee highlighted the importance of the economic dimension of the Creative Europe programme, it also noted that the programme was overly concerned with the general objective of competitiveness, while the goal of promoting European cultural and linguistic diversity and values is less visible. In addition it also considered the budget amount as insufficient to cover its targets in relation to the total EU budget or the funds allocated by some Member States to support cultural activities.

In its new proposal, the Commission proposes to create a legally sound and transparent solution to ensure sustainable support for the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO), taking into account its specific features, by recognising it as a ‘body identified by a basic act’ within the meaning of Article 190(1)(d) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012.

This initiative is totally in accordance with the Committee’s view in its previous opinion. This funding for the EUYO will not require additional resources from the EU budget.

The new proposal adds only one point to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 establishing the Creative Europe programme (2014-2020): ‘(f) the European Union Youth Orchestra’.

Since the Committee endorses the contents of the proposal and has already set out its views on the subject in its earlier opinion (2), CCMI/098 — CES828-2012_AC adopted on 28 March 2012, it decided, at its 529th plenary session of 18 and 19 October 2017 (meeting of 18), by 196 votes in favour, no vote against and 3 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text and to refer to the position it had taken in the abovementioned document.

(1)  EESC opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the Creative Europe Programme (2014-2018) (OJ C 181, 21.6.2012, p. 35).

(2)  See footnote 1.