Co-financing operations with European non-governmental development organisations (NGOs) in fields of interest to the developing countries

In adopting the recommendation for second reading by Mrs Marialiese FLEMMING (PPE, A), Parliament approved the Council's common position with the following amendments: - removal of the financial reference amount in the proposed document (ECU 10.6 million), - modification of the rate of overall assistance from the Community to NGOs: Parliament proposed a new rate of 60% instead of the 50% proposed by the Council in its common position, - addition of certain selection criteria to determine operations to receive financial aid: cooperation with organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, encouraging sound integration of education programmes on the environment, innovation, consolidating civil society and a greater say accorded to citizens. Moreover, Parliament stated that, in order to be able to apply for a grant in excess of ECU 100 000, the NGO should produce its accounts for the preceding two years, the current year and the year during which the grant-aided projects had been completed. �