Strasbourg, 13/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of the recommendation by British Labour member Eryl Mc Nally, the European Parliament (during codecision, second reading) cleared the launching of the multiannual programme on "Intelligent Energy for Europe" (2003-2006), which replaces the current framework programme that expired on 31 December 2002. In order to avoid conciliation procedure with the Council, the Parliament approved several compromise amendments approved by the Council and especially the amount of EUR 200 million for financing the programme. During the debate, while welcoming the vote, the rapporteur felt that the programme was "modest" and regretted the time lost in implementing it when it should have begun on 1 January 2003. Furthermore, supported in this by all political groups, Ms MacNally again regretted that the Council refuses the setting in place of a European Energy Agency while giving its assurance that the Parliament would continue to work on this.
The 200 million for the programme will be broken down as follows: EUR 69.8 million for improving energy efficiency and the rational use of energy (SAVE), EUR 80 million for promoting renewable energy sources (ALTENER), EUR 32.6 million for the energy aspects of transport (STEER), and EUR 17.6 million for the promotion of renewable energies and energy efficiency in developing countries (COOPENER). The other amendments, also accepted by the Council and the Commission, stipulate that: (1) the European Commission will carry out an assessment by outside experts on implementation of the programme at the end of the second year of the period for application of the programme (instead of the third year as initially proposed); (2) the annual Commission reports on implementation of the programme will be forwarded to the Parliament and to the Council; (3) the national, regional and local organisations will contribute to implementation of this programme; and (4) Community rules on public access to information, transparency and the integration of gender equality will be taken into account throughout the programme.