Article 1Decision No 508/2000/EC is hereby amended as follows: in Article...
Article 2This Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day...

Decision No 626/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

of 31 March 2004

amending Decision No 508/2000/EC establishing the Culture 2000 programme

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 151 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions1,
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty2,

Whereas:

(1)
Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 February 2000 establishing the Culture 2000 programme3 set up a single financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation for a period running from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004.
(2)

It is important to ensure the continuity of Community cultural action in implementation of the Community's responsibilities under Article 151 of the Treaty.

(3)

The Culture 2000 programme should therefore be extended for two years until 31 December 2006.

(4)

The revision of the financial perspective with a view to enlargement provides for an increased ceiling on heading 3 which has to be respected by the legislative authority when extending existing programmes.

(5)

It is essential that the Commission provide a full and detailed assessment report on the Culture 2000 Programme by 31 December 2005, so as to enable the European Parliament and the Council to consider the proposal for a new framework programme for Community action on culture, announced for 2004 and planned to enter into force in 2007,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: