(a)

the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education ‘Socrates’ approved by Decision No 253/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3);

(b)

the second phase of the Community vocational training action programme ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ approved by Council Decision 1999/382/EC (4);

(c)

the ‘Youth’ Community action programme approved by Decision No 1031/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (5);

(d)

the ‘Culture 2000’ programme approved by Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (6);

(e)

the programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works (MEDIA Plus — Development, Distribution and Promotion) (2001 to 2005) approved by Council Decision 2000/821/EC (7);

(f)

the training programme for professionals of the European audiovisual programme industry (MEDIA-Training) (2001 to 2005) approved by Decision No 163/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (8);

(g)

the programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) approved by Decision No 2317/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (9);

(h)

the multiannual programme (2004 to 2006) for the effective integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education and training systems in Europe (e-Learning) approved by Decision No 2318/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (10);

(i)

the Community action programme to promote active European citizenship (civic participation), approved by Council Decision 2004/100/EC (11);

(j)

the Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level in the field of youth, approved by Decision No 790/2004/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (12);

(k)

the Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level and support specific activities in the field of education and training, approved by Decision No 791/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (13);

(l)

the Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level in the field of culture, approved by Decision No 792/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (14);

(m)

projects in the field of higher education which could be funded under the provisions on aid for economic cooperation with the developing countries in Asia, approved under Council Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 (15).

(a)

managing, throughout their duration, the projects entrusted to it in the context of implementation of Community programmes, on the basis of the annual work programme which serves as a funding decision with regard to grants and contracts in the fields of education, audiovisual and culture and is adopted by the Commission, or on the basis of specific funding decisions adopted by the Commission, and the necessary checks to that end, by adopting the relevant decisions where the Commission has empowered it to do so;

(b)

adopting the instruments of budget implementation for revenue and expenditure and carrying out, where the Commission has empowered it to do so, some or all of the operations necessary for the management of the Community programmes and, in particular, those linked to the award of grants and contracts;

(c)

gathering, analysing and passing on to the Commission all the information needed to guide the implementation of the Community programmes.