Brussels, 21.2.2005

COM(2005) 70 final

2004/0025 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendment to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a multiannual Community programme to make digital content in Europe more accessible, usable and exploitable

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty

2004/0025 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSIONpursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty,on the European Parliament's amendmentto the Council's common position regarding theproposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a multiannual Community programme to make digital content in Europe more accessible, usable and exploitable

1. INTRODUCTION

Article 251(2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty provides that the Commission is to deliver an opinion on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament at second reading. The Commission sets out its opinion below on the amendment proposed by Parliament.

2. Background

Date of transmission of the proposal to the EP and the Council (document COM(2004) 96 final– 2004/0025 COD): | 13 February 2004. |

Date of the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee: | 29 April 2004. |

Date of the opinion of the European Parliament, first reading: | 22 April 2004. |

Date of transmission of the amended proposal: | 30 April 2004. |

Date of adoption of the Council’s common position: | 24 September 2004. |

Date of adoption of the Commission opinion on the Council’s common position | 8 October 2004. |

3. PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL

The proposed programme aims at improving the conditions for reuse of European digital content. It targets sectors of the digital content market where development has been slow and market forces alone have not been enough to secure optimal results in terms of economic growth, job creation, innovation and consumer choice. These sectors include public sector information – in particular geographic data, and educational material and cultural content.

4. OPINION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE AMENDMENT BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

On 27 January 2005 the European Parliament adopted one amendment to the Council’s common position on a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme to make digital content in Europe more accessible, usable and exploitable. The Commission can accept the European Parliament amendment.

4.1. Amendments accepted by the Commission

- Amendment 1 (Article 6, paragraph 1): the Parliament proposes to set the financial framework for the implementation of the programme to EUR 149 million.

5. Conclusion

Pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission amends its proposal as set out above.