Energy and sustainable development: multiannual programme "Intelligent Energy for Europe", 2003-2006

The committee adopted the report by Eryl McNALLY (PES, UK) amending the proposal under the codecision procedure (1st reading). It called for: - increased funding for the programmes: an extra EUR 25 million for ALTENER, SAVE and STEER and a further EUR 15 million for COOPENER, bringing the total programme cost from EUR 215 million to EUR 255; - the inclusion of a clause specifying that, following enlargement, an additional contribution reflecting the number and size of new Member States would be foreseen from 2004 onwards; - the appropriations earmarked for international promotion to represent 13.3% of the total programme cost, rather than 8.8% as proposed by the Commission; - the candidate countries to be included in the programme; - a horizontal (i.e. inter-DG) task force to be set up to ensure coordination between the various fields of the programme, linkage with other Community policies and utilisation of the project results for the preparation of future legislative measures; - economic and social cohesion to be specifically mentioned as one of the programme's objectives; - priority to be given to SMEs and regional or local networks; - dissemination of results and access to information to be guaranteed by the budget; - potential future participants to be chosen according to transparent criteria, with gender mainstreaming being maintained throughout the programme; - the establishment of a European Intelligent Energy Agency, to be responsible for strategic thinking for the development, promotion and implementation of technological measures; - the Committee set up to assist the Commission in establishing the work programme to include 5 members of the EP with full status; - administrative procedures to be simplified and speeded up.�