Programme, including translation in the field of books and reading (ARIANE), 1997-1999

On 6 October 1997, the European Parliament and the Council established a Community programme of support, including translation, in the field of books and reading for the period 1997-1998 (Ariane). The financial allocation for the programme was ECU 7 million. The decision provided for suitable measures to be taken to avoid interruption of the programme pending the adoption of a new programme. On 23 Septebmer 1998 the Commission published a proposal for a European and Council decision to amend Regulation No 2085/97/EC to extend the Ariane programme for an extra year to 31 December 1999 with a final financial allocation of EUR 10 million.

The Ariane programme complements the KALEIDOSCOPE and RAPHAEL programmes in the cultural field, as well as other programmes in the education and training fields. The Commission has published proposals for a single overall Community cultural programme (CULTURE 2000) during 1998, which will bring together all the activities presently addressed under different programmes.
The aim of the programme is to encourage cooperation between the Member States in the field of books and reading; to support and complement their activities in this area, by contributing to the development of their cultures while respecting national and regional diversity; to increase the knowledge and dissemination of the literature and history of the European peoples, as well as access thereto by European citizen, notably through:
- Support for the translation of literary works, plays and reference works;
- Support for cooperation projects carried out in partnership;
- Improvement of the skills of professionals in this field.
Four types of action:

- Grants for the translation of high-quality 20th Century literature, plays and reference works;

- Organization of the Aristeion prizes combined with translation grant;

- Support for cooperation projects carried out in partnership and designed to promote books and reading and improve public access, including:

. Projects to promote mutual knowledge of and access to European literature and history;

. Projects to improve access to information on the dissemination of books, book promotion and access to reading;

. Exchanges of experience and knowledge;

- Training for professionals working to improve mutual knowledge and the dissemination of European literature.
The programme will be implemented by the Commission assisted by an advisory Committee consisting of Member State representatives. The scheme will be monitored on the basis of standing instruments whose main function is to ascertain to what extent the selection criteria for projects are being met. The selection criteria for projects are:

- European added value;

- The number of Member States involved in cooperation projects (minimum number of three);

- Whether they are of relevance at the Community level because they would serve as models, are innovative or would be informative;

- Previous translation and publication in two European Union languages, except in the case of works in less common languages;

- In the case of reference works, their contribution to knowledge and dissemination of the history and culture of the European peoples.

An internal evaluation of the first year of the implementation of the programme (1997) is planned and a report on the first two years of the programme will be prepared in 1998.