Decentralised development cooperation: extension until 31 December 2003

The committee adopted the report by Maria CARRILHO (PES, P) broadly approving the proposal under the codecision procedure (1st reading), subject to a few amendments. In particular, it wanted to include organisations of indigenous peoples and also cultural bodies among the cooperation partners eligible for funding under the regulation. It also wanted the overall assessment of the operations funded, which the Commission was required to submit before the regulation expired, to be accompanied by suggestions concerning the continuing promotion of decentralised cooperation and the involvement of civil society.�