These developments will probably later make their way back into the Ariane programme.

We are all very strong supporters of the campaign to promote books and reading, which is why we welcome the Ariane programme.

Those works benefit from the Ariane programme's support, even if they have never previously been translated into other Union languages.

Perhaps my last comments may cast a shadow on my pleasure at the adoption of the Ariane programme.

Perhaps I should just say a few words as regards the management of the Ariane Programme for this year.

Those hopes were vain: the Ariane programme has been cut to two years, with its budget slashed by four-fifths.

I hope that the Ariane programme will be a successful first step in efforts to develop and renew the whole European book sector.

Meanwhile in 1973, the expendable Ariane programme was begun, a launcher that by the year 2000 would capture much of the geosat market.

Ariane 5 is operated and marketed by Arianespace as part of the Ariane programme.

Ariane's Cup is a sailing competition organized on behalf of the Industrials participating in the Ariane programme.

We are therefore particularly pleased to welcome the unblocking of the ARIANE programme after so long.

It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane 5 rocket launcher as part of the Ariane programme.

For that reason, the ARIANE programme is very important indeed for the European Union.

The ARIANE programme is of great importance to the dissemination of literature written in lesser known languages.

The ARIANE programme can thus contribute to intercultural understanding between the peoples of the EU countries.

Piloted by the CNES, nurtured by the Ariane programme, France's space industries developed rapidly after 1973.

These were located mostly in two areas - launcher rockets (primarily the Ariane programme), accounting for 50 per cent of the workforce and satellites for 45 per cent.

The ARIANE programme opens up the possibility for Danish authors to get assistance in having their books translated into other EU languages.

Mr. President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, you will perhaps remember that about two years ago, in April 1995, in this chamber I very enthusiastically presented the Ariane programme.

All other countries to have developed such capability have retained it either through their own space programme, or in the case of France through its involvement in the Ariane programme.

The principal aim of the ARIANE programme is to support the translation of works written in lesser known languages in the EU, for example Danish.

Mr President, Mrs Vaz da Silva is quite right to tick off the Council and the Commission about the derisory budget for the Ariane Programme.

The creation of a corporate sense of identity for France's space industry is due largely to the CNES, and to pride in the early (1979-86) success of the Ariane programme.

The ARIANE programme, ambitious from its outset and rightly so, has been more drastically cut in both duration and budget than any of those who inspired it could have foreseen.

However, the Ariane Programme represents real progress in the development of our support in the field of culture and one that we should be gratified at bringing to the point of formal adoption today.