Brussels, 24/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Conciliation Committee did not manage to agree on a common project in view of the definitive adoption of the new Community action programme in the field of health (see EUROPE of 15 December 2001 for the vote on second reading in the EP). The meeting did, however, allow for Parliament's and the Council's points of views to become closer on different issues and to take a first step forward towards agreement of the programme's financing. Originally, the Commission had proposed a financial envelope of 300 million euro that the Council was quick to reduce to 280 million, whereas the European Parliament demanded 380 million to take account of the financial consequences of enlargement that has to intervene during the implementation of the five-year programme. To resolve this difficulty, the Conciliation Committee reached agreement on the introduction of a clause allowing for the amount of the envelope to be reviewed after enlargement. The European Commission had calculated that to take account of the amendments made by the European Parliament, and accepted by the Council, the amount of 330 million euro would nevertheless be necessary. It is this sum that the European Parliament delegation tried to secure, at Tuesday's meeting, but the Council did not want to exceed the 310 million. EUROPE has reason to believe that the Commission said it could agree to 320 million and, if pushed, 310 million, even though it would have preferred 330 million. A position somewhat vague, noted the rapporteur Giorgos Katifforis (Greek, Socialist) who declared: "We must be logical (…) and not place back into question the effectiveness of the implementation of such an ambitious programme for such a little amount".