Tourism Council of 13 May 1996
The Tourism Council of the European Union met in Brussels on 13 May 1996. Topics discussed included the Green Paper on tourism, the PHILOXENIA programme, Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, and the Commission's report on Community measures affecting tourism. With regard to the Commission's Green Paper on the role of the European Union in the field of tourism, views expressed within the Council ranged from broadly maintaining the existing approach to the introduction of a Community tourism policy founded on a specific Treaty basis. The Council held a preliminary debate on the proposal to establish the first multiannual programme for tourism (PHILOXENIA). The programme aims at increasing the effectiveness and competitiveness of Community actions in the field of tourism in order to contribute to growth and employment. While most delegations welcomed the proposal, some postponed judgement until they had read the evaluation report. In the field of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, the Council adopted a resolution setting out the principles and objectives of cooperation between the EU and the Mediterranean region in the field of tourism, with particular emphasis on information and training measures. The Council also took note of the Commission's report on Community measures affecting tourism in 1994. The report covers all Community activities which have an impact in the sector, in particular regional policy, Structural Funds, transport and the environment.