Strasbourg, 10/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament announced on Wednesday its adoption of a report by Ingo Schmitt (EPP, Germany) on the plan to set up a European Air Safety Agency. The entity is to be tasked with centralising the certification process for European aviation equipment. The MEPs' first-reading decision (co-decision procedure) involved accepting the 60 or so amendments the rapporteur recommended, mainly so as to ensure the Agency is more independent from the Commission (see EUROPE of 31 August, p.7). They also took on board several amendments tabled by the European Liberal Democrats, who are particularly keen that the Commission should act before late 2002 to table a proposal to regulate "sectors that have not yet been considered " (operating aircraft and licensing flight crews in the EU). The amendments also allow the opportunity for the EASA governing board to be convened at the request of the European Parliament, rather than just at the initiative of the Agency's president or the Commission. They also recommend that members of boards of appeal should have their appointments renewed no more than once. An amendment tabled by the Socialists and Liberal Democrats underlines the European Parliament's feeling that Member States agreeing to accommodate the Agency's local offices should make a financial contribution