15 December 2006 - Brussels Another step forward for LIFE+ approval
Last November 28 the Conciliation Committee was officially set up. Its task is to reach a compromise between the Council position (of 27/06/2006) and the amendments proposed by the Parliament (on 24/10/2006) to the LIFE+ regulations. The first official meeting of the Committee is foreseen by next February/March, while the unofficial meetings will start in January.
In second reading the European Parliament approved 32 amendments to the proposal
of regulation, 20 of which were rejected by the European Commission (decision of
22/11/2006). After the stop to LIFE+ the co-decision
procedure started. It foresees the setting up of the Conciliation Committee,
composed of representatives of the Parliament and of the Council, with the task
of preparing a common project which will obtain the requested majority by the
two institutions.
Coreper
has already discussed on two occasions the possible strategy for the LIFE+
negotiation, which will be long and delicate, due to the contraposition between
the Parliament and the Council on the delegation to Member States of the
management of 80% of the LIFE+ budget.
The non-approval of the LIFE+ Regulation deprives the Environment Direction
of the European Commission of a considerable part of funds and makes it
impossible, at present, to say if there will be a call for proposals and project
selection in 2007.
