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

In adopting the recommendation for second reading by Mrs Marialiese FLEMMING (PPE, A), the European Parliament approved the Council's common position with the following amendments: - doing away with the financial reference amount in the text of the proposal (ECU 10.6 million), - amending the rate of Community assistance available for NGOs: Parliament proposed a new threshold of 60% rather than the 50% proposed by the Council in the common position, - adding certain selection criteria on which financial support would depend: cooperating with organisations in Central and Eastern Europe, promoting sustainable development and education on the environment, innovation, enhancing the participation and influence of the social forces and the public. Parliament also pointed out that NGOs seeking grants over ECU 100 000 would have to provide their accounts for the preceding two years, the current year and the year during which the grant-aided projects had been completed. �