Forests: protection against fire (amend. Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92)

In its common position, the Council accepted some of the amendments included in the Commission's amended proposal. It rejected the same amendments as the Commission, i.e. those relating to the committee procedure and the budget allocations. On those two points, the Council, in agreement with the Commission, included changes. The provisions relating to committee procedure in both Regulations have been adjusted to take account of the most recent rules in this area, in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission. The financial allocations have been increased from the EUR 34.5 million proposed by the Commission to EUR 35.1 million in the case of atmospheric pollution and reduced from the EUR 50 million proposed by the Commission to EUR 49.4 million in the case of forest fires. This new allocation between the two measures still corresponds to the total amount actually allocated during 1997-2001, i.e. EUR 84.5 million. Lastly, also in agreement wit the Commission, the Council introduced a provision to ensure legal certainty and to conform the validity of the measures taken under Regulation 307/97/EC and 308/97/EC, annulled by the Court. In view of these, the Commission supports the common position adopted by the Council.�