Brussels, 15/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - Deliberating in second reading on the Life Plus environment fund for 2007-2013, the European Parliament's Environment Committee rejected the idea of reserving at least 80% of the budget of Life Plus for managing projects delegated to the Member States (rather than centralised management by the European Commission). In first reading, talks focussed mainly on how Life Environment was funded (given the ongoing negotiations over the Financial Perspectives at the time and adjusting the budget) so it is how the budget is broken down which will be discussed in second reading. Following the recommendation of the rapporteur, Marie Anne Isler Béguin (French Green), the committee members voted by 36 to 2 with one abstention in favour of rejecting any renationalising of the programme, which could lead to the loss of any European value added by giving a blank cheque to Member States to carry out projects at home.
The plenary is now invited to follow the recommendation of the Environment Committee, which differs from the common position taken by the Council (see EUROPE No. 9220).