LIFE II: financial instrument for the environment (amend. regul. 1973/92/EEC)

The Commission's amended proposal takes over either wholly or in part 28 of the 34 amendments adopted by the EP at first reading, including those seeking to: - list the actions financed by Life and the areas of activity eligible; - define preparatory measures, demonstration measures and technical assistance; - define the scope of the preparatory measures; - underline the need for accompanying measures to facilitate the Life mission; - place the CEECs and the Member States on the same footing and allow non-CEEC third countries to take part in some activities; - deal with the issues of water treatment or management, coastal zones, air pollution or industrial activities; - deal with the following financial issues: maximum financial support; the principle of 50-50 sharing between activities relating to nature protection and other activities; deletion of the article which proposed that the proposals made in 1995 be funded under the 1996 budget; - specify the procedures for proposal submission and reporting. However, the Commission rejected the amendments seeking to: - specify indicative amounts; - increase to above 5% the share of funds allocated to non-CEEC third countries; - insert an additional criterion concerning the use of best available technology; - amend the provisions on commitology; the Life committee must remain a regulatory committee; - oblige the Commission to submit to the Council and the EP on an annual basis either a report evaluing each action undertaken, or one evaluating the results of Life projects. The Commission does, however, agree to supply Parliament with information documents on project management. �