On 6 April 2005, the Commission published a draft European Parliament and Council decision establishes for the period 2007-2013 the specific programme: "Fight against violence (Daphne), and drugs prevention and information". This specific programme is part of the framework programme "Fundamental rights and justice".
The planned allocation for the whole period is EUR 138.2 million (EUR 134.4 million for operational expenditure and EUR 2.8 million for administrative expenditure).
Following the inter-institutional agreement on the financial framework 2007-2013, signed on the 17 May 2006, the Commission plans to adopt, on the 24 May, modified proposals regarding the new financial instruments in the field of justice, security and freedom. The amended legislative acts proposed by the Commission are consistent with the annual expenditure ceilings agreed in the new financial framework (please refer to the financial statement for details of the new expenditure ceilings).
The European Parliament, in particular, and also the European Economic and Social Committee requested the splitting of the two actions. This is a position which appears to be shared by the Council.
The Commission previously presented the "Daphne" and "Drugs prevention and information" under a common programme for the following reasons:
§ the need to rationalise and simplify the financial instruments in the field of justice, freedom and security by reducing their number and increasing their efficiency;
§ acts of violence and drug addiction have strong links to public health in all Member States;
§ there is a common legal basis (Article 152 of the TEC concerning EUR health policy).
The presentation of the actions concerning "Daphne" and "Drugs prevention and information" together under one single programme has been criticized out of the concern that the Daphne programme, whose importance in fighting violence against women and children should be stressed, might lose visibility, if combined with measures related to drug addiction, under a single instrument. Additionally, splitting the two actions will facilitate a quick decision making process.
This change is taking place with no modifications to content, whether the legal basis, explanatory memorandum, recitals, or the articles of the proposals for decision.
This split ensures that the two programmes, as well as other financial instruments, are complementary.
Concerning the financial resources, the division of the two programmes implies the following breakdown for the period 2007-2013 (please refer to the financial statement):