Environment: promoting NGO primarily active in the field of environmental protection (Community action programme)

The Committee on the Environment unanimously approved the report by Mr RUBIG (PPE) on a Community action programme promoting NGOs active in the field of environmental protection. According to the rapporteur, to approve the Commission's proposal, any decision to distribute public funds would need to be subject to strict conditions in accordance with the financial regulation. Moreover, resources would have to be managed efficiently. Whilst giving particular consideration to the specific characteristics of the NGOs in question, which benefited from unpaid work and donations in kind, the Committee on the Environment endeavoured to supplement the criteria set out in the initial proposal, by ensuring, for example, that Community aid did not lead to the NGOs becoming totally dependent on the funding for its administrative and management costs. Moreover, the rapporteur did not agree with the financial support proposed by the Commission under point (c) of the Annex as regards cooperation between 'the environmental players' and NGOs at European level, as this would involve financing their annual meetings, 'Consultation forum', etcetera. �