A4-0264/97

Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision on a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organizations primarily active in the field of environmental protection (C4-0217/97 - 95/0336(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0217/97 - 95/0336(SYN),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 362, 2.12.1996, p. 125.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council COM(95)0573 ((OJ C 104, 3.4.1997, p. 11.)),

- having regard to the Commission's amended proposal (COM(97)0028) ((OJ C 104, 3.4.1997, p. 15.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0264/97),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

(Amendment 1)

Recital 19

>Original text>

(19) Whereas a financial reference amount within the meaning of point 2 of the Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995 is included in this Decision for the entire duration of the programme, without thereby affecting the powers of the budgetary authority as they are defined by the Treaty;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 2)

Article 3(2)

>Original text>

2. The activities referred to in paragraph 1 shall be selected on the basis of general criteria, such as:

>Text following EP vote>

2. The activities referred to in paragraph 1 shall be selected on the basis of general criteria, such as:

>Original text>

- a sound cost-benefit ratio,

>Text following EP vote>

- a sound cost-benefit ratio,

>Original text>

- a lasting multiplier effect at European level,

>Text following EP vote>

- a lasting multiplier effect at European level,

>Original text>

- an effective and balanced cooperation among any partners with regard to: planning of activities, carrying out of activities and financial participation,

>Text following EP vote>

- effective and balanced cooperation between individual partners with regard to:

- planning of activities,

- carrying out of activities,

- financial participation,

>Original text>

- a contribution to a multinational approach.

>Text following EP vote>

- cross-border cooperation in Europe, focusing in particular on projects implemented jointly with organizations in Central and Eastern Europe or other countries bordering the Union,

>Text following EP vote>

- an approach seeking to ensure that environmental education and basic and advanced training in environment-related subjects are made a permanent part of general, technical, and vocational education,

>Text following EP vote>

- Europe-wide exchange and exploitation of innovative experiences (interdisciplinary approaches, assessment, validation, etc.),

>Text following EP vote>

- consolidation of civil society and greater involvement of citizens.

(Amendment 3)

Article 6(1)

>Original text>

1. This programme shall start on 1 January 1998 and shall end on 31 December 2001.

>Text following EP vote>

1. This programme shall start on 1 January 1998 and shall end on 31 December 2001.

>Original text>

The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 1998 to 2001 shall be ECU 10.6 million.

>Original text>

The annual appropriations shall be authorized by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective.

(Amendment 4)

Article 6(2)

>Original text>

2. The rate of overall Community assistance shall, in principle, not exceed 50% of the budgeted activities and administrative costs as mentioned in Article 4.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The rate of overall Community assistance shall, in principle, not exceed 60% of the budgeted activities and administrative costs as mentioned in Article 4.

(Amendment 5)

Article 6(3a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

3a. In order to be able to apply for a grant in excess of ECU 100 000, a non-governmental organization's accounts for the preceding two years, the years in which it receives grants and the year in which the activities in respect of which a grant has been awarded are completed, must be certified by a registered auditor, or the accounts must be kept in an officially recognized form (revenue and expenditure accounts and/or balance sheets).