Consumers: financing Community actions 2004-2007, general framework

The European Parliament adopted a resolution with 503 votes in favour, 20 against and 18 abstentions. The rapporteur was Philip WHITEHEAD (PES, United Kingdom). The principal amendments were as follows: - in order to improve administrative efficiency, and the effectiveness and impact of specific projects, calls for specific projects should be published at least every two years and support should be provided for up to a maximum of 75% (increased from 70%) of the cost of the eligible expenses for implementing the projects; - the financial framework for the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2007 is set at EUR 72 million, of which EUR 54 million for the period until 31 December 2006. For the period following 31 December 2006, the amount proposed will be deemed to be confirmed if it is consistent for this phase with the financial perspectives in force for the period commencing in 2007; - the Community contribution to joint actions 9 and 10 will, in principle, be 50%, and in no event exceed 70%, of the total cost of the action. The Commission will set out clearly which joint actions will be eligible for a financial contribution of more than 50%; - the financial contributions for action 18 will, in principle, be 50%, and in no event exceed 75% (up from 70%) of the eligible expenses. The Commission will set out clearly which specific projects will be eligible for a financial contribution of more than 50%; - at an early stage in the evaluation process of applications for financial contributions, the Commission must inform the applicants if they are not eligible or if their application does not provide the information that is necessary to verify the application's conformity with the selection criteria; - within three months of the deadline for the submission of applications, the Commission will decide on the attribution of financial contributions for actions 16, 17 and 18; - there are amendments to Actions 15 and 18. Action 18 includes specific projects specific projects undertaken by consumer organisations and aiming to accelerate the effective implementation of the acquis communautaire on consumer protection in the new Member States as well as projects promoting the crossborder exchange of information and best practice concerning the integration of consumer rights into other policies; - the definition of independent consumer organisations should be strict and the organisations should provide the Commission with "satisfactory accounts of their membership, internal rules and sources of funding".�