A4-0258/96

Proposal for a Council Decision on a Community action programme promoting non- governmental organizations primarily active in the field of environmental protection (COM(95)0573 - C4-0104/96 - 95/0336(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas the participation of representative European environmental organisations is required for the implementation of the Council Regulation on a Community ecolabel award scheme and the Commission Decision on the setting up of a Consultative Forum on the environment;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 2)

Recital 11a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas non-governmental organizations often use voluntary labour and often receive donations in kind; whereas account should be taken of this special feature of their accounting systems when their revenue and expenditure, as well as their applications for subsidies, are considered;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 11b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas financial support should be designed in such a way as to take account of the environmental organisations' political independence and the need for openness concerning the use of this support;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 12

>Original text>

Whereas it is important to define the priority areas of action which the Community programme might support, while complying with polluter pays and the subsidiarity principles;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is important to define the priority areas of action which the Community programme might support, while complying with the polluter pays and subsidiarity principles and whereas European environmental umbrella organizations should therefore be included;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 14

>Original text>

Whereas it is necessary to specify the detailed rules for Community support under the programme;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is necessary to specify the detailed rules for Community financial support under the programme;

(Amendment 6)

Article 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1a

Non-governmental organizations operating at a European level shall be taken to mean both European umbrella organisations and national organisations with partners in at least one other European country.

>Text following EP vote>

Environmental non-governmental organizations operating at a European level are private, non-governmental and non-profit making organisations with an environmental objective aimed at the public good.

(Amendment 7)

Article 2(2), first subparagraph

>Original text>

2. Community financial assistance may be provided for actions which are of Community interest, contribute significantly to the implementation of Community environmental policy and meeting the principles underlying the Fifth Action Programme.

>Text following EP vote>

2. Community financial assistance may be provided for actions which are of Community interest, contribute significantly to the implementation and further development of Community environmental policy.

(Amendment 8)

Article 2(2), second subparagraph

>Original text>

This assistance shall cover, in particular, the awareness campaigns and actions, information and documentation infrastructure, demonstration projects and co- ordination activities of non-governmental organizations.

>Text following EP vote>

This assistance shall cover, in particular, the awareness campaigns and actions, information and documentation infrastructure, demonstration projects and co- ordination activities of non-governmental organizations initiated by these organisations themselves. Community financial assistance may also be considered for measures designed to strengthen cooperation between NGOs from different countries.

(Amendment 9)

Article 3(1)

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall establish the priority activities to be implemented within the fields of action defined in the Annex.

>Text following EP vote>

1. Activities shall be selected primarily on the basis of the following criteria:

(a) a sound cost-benefit ratio;

>Text following EP vote>

(b) a lasting multiplier effect at European level;

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(c) effective and balanced cooperation between individual partners in the following areas:

- activity planning;

- activity implementation;

- financial participation;

>Text following EP vote>

(d) cross-border cooperation in Europe, with special emphasis on joint projects with Eastern and Central European organisations;

>Text following EP vote>

(e) their contribution to the long-term integration of environmental education, training and further training into general, technical and vocational education;

>Text following EP vote>

(f) the exchange and exploitation of innovative experiences (interdisciplinary approaches, assessment, validation, etc.) at European level;

>Text following EP vote>

(g) the strengthening of civil society and citizens' participation.

(Amendment 21)

Article 3(2)

>Original text>

2. The Commission shall specify the additional criteria to be used for selecting the actions to be financed.

>Text following EP vote>

2. In general the following shall not receive funding:

(a) general education and information campaigns aimed at the general public;

>Text following EP vote>

(b) measures which have already been completed or are under way;

>Text following EP vote>

(c) activities which can be supported under other Community programmes;

>Text following EP vote>

(d) organisations which have been found guilty of an offence by a court in the European Union within the last two years;

>Text following EP vote>

(e) simple transfers of national measures.

(Amendment 11)

Article 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 3a

The Commission may ask environmental non-governmental organizations for an opinion on the activities subsidized.

(Amendment 23)

Article 6(1)

>Original text>

1. The rate of Community assistance shall, in principle not exceed 40% of the budgeted operational and administrative expenditures.

>Text following EP vote>

1. While environmental non-governmental organisations are expected to seek other forms of support as well, the rate of Community assistance might, in principle, cover up to 60% of the budgeted operational and administrative expenditures.

(Amendment 22)

Article 6(2)

>Original text>

2. The subsidy to cover administrative support shall last, in principle, for not more than three years.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The subsidy to cover administrative support shall not exceed the duration of the programme.

(Amendment 13)

Article 6(2a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

2a. In exceptional cases the Commission may grant European umbrella organizations an annual subsidy, which, however, may not amount to more than 30% of their operating costs in the previous year.

(Amendment 25)

Article 6(3)

>Original text>

3. The Community assistance will be for activities which are to take place in the current or a subsequent year of the grant.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The Community assistance will be for activities of which at least a significant number are to take place in the current year of the grant, in so far as this can reasonably be required on the basis of the date of the agreement for the granting of assistance.

>Text following EP vote>

Unpaid work and donations in kind, if properly documented, can function as matching funds, if necessary, for EU contributions.

(Amendment 15)

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 organisation'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 recognised form (revenue and expenditure accounts and/or balance sheets).

(Amendment 24)

Article 7(3)

>Original text>

3. Actions under this programme shall be approved following an assessment of the proposals by 30 April of each year and shall give rise to an agreement, governing the rights and obligations of partners, concluded with the beneficiaries responsible for implementation.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The call for tender activities under this programme shall be announced in the Official Journal every year before 31 January. After an assessment of the proposals, the Commission shall decide before 31 May which activities it will subsidize. These decisions shall be published in the Official Journal, and shall give rise to an agreement, governing the rights and obligations of partners, concluded with the beneficiaries responsible for implementation.

(Amendment 17)

Article 8(3a)(new)

>Text following EP vote>

3a. Assessment of the project selection criteria on the basis of a cost- effectiveness study shall be submitted to the budgetary authority before 1 September of each financial year.

(Amendment 18)

Article 12

>Original text>

No later than 30 June 1999, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this programme covering the first three years and shall make proposals for any adjustment to be made with a view to continuing the action beyond the current phase.

>Text following EP vote>

No later than 30 April 1999, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this programme covering the first three years and shall make proposals for any adjustment to be made with a view to continuing or not continuing the action beyond the current phase.

>Original text>

The Council, acting by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, shall decide on the implementation of the subsequent phase as from 1 January 2000.

>Text following EP vote>

The Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Articles 130s(1) and 189c of the Treaty, shall decide on the implementation of the subsequent phase as from 1 January 2000.

(Amendment 19)

Annex (B), title

>Original text>

B. Analysis of environment activities 40%

>Text following EP vote>

B. Analysis of environment activities 50%

(Amendment 20)

Annex (C), title and first indent

>Original text>

C. Cooperation between actors in the environment and non-government organisations active at European level 20%

>Text following EP vote>

C. Cooperation between non-government organisations active at European level 10%

>Original text>

- Promote cooperation between partners identified by the Fifth Action Programme for the environment,

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organizations primarily active in the field of environmental protection (COM(95)0573 - C4-0104/96 - 95/0336(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0573 - 95/0336(SYN),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c and 130s of the EC Treaty (C4-0104/96),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets

(A4-0258/96),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

4. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

5. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.