Brussels, 15/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - Last Thursday the European Parliament Industry Committee reached an agreement by unanimity for granting EUR 21 million to the "Modinis programme for the dissemination of good practices and improvement of network and information security. The programme covers the period (2003-2005) and aims to monitor the eEUROPE 2005 Action Plan - dissemination of good practices and improvement of network and information security.
In its first reading, the European Parliament supported the initial European Commission proposal for a budget of EUR 25 million. In its common position, the Council had suggested the figure of EUR 20 million. Mel READ (PES, UK), the rapporteur, recommended that the EP approve the common position and the amount of EUR 21 million insofar as this amount is likely to be accepted by all the Member States, which would avoid having to go to conciliation procedure. Modinis will take over from the "Promise" programme that came to an end last year. It will guarantee the crucial financial support for implementing the e-Europe action plan whose objectives were ratified by the European Council of Seville.