Strasbourg, 18/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - When consulted in first reading according to codecision procedure on the proposal of directive relating to a Community cooperation framework to promote sustainable development in the urban environment, the European Parliament, as requested by its rapporteur, French Socialist Marie-Noëlle Lienemann, called for cooperation in this field between 2001 and 2004 with funding of EUR 20 million instead of the 12.4 million proposed by the Commission. This allocation is intended to finance a "European campaign in favour of sustainable towns and built-up areas" bringing together 540 local authorities of EU Member States, and open to participation by local authorities of candidate countries. The plenary sitting adopted a series of the rapporteur's amendments mainly insisting on the need to involve the local authorities, economic agencies and civil society in this campaign and on respect of the principle of subsidiarity. An amendment adopted by 232 to 219 with 7 abstentions adds "the contribution to strengthening and to the renewal of general interest services" to action covered by the campaign, while an amendment presented by Avril Doyle for the EPP/ED and by the rapporteur Dagmar Roth-Behrendt for the PES affirms that the Commission may give its financial support to any town network "whatever its size" that hopes to develop activities coming under the decision.