FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
(LIFE+) (13071/04)
Letter from Ian Pearson MP, Minister of
State for Climate Change and Environment, Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs
I am writing to update you on the European Parliament's
second reading of the proposed Regulation on the Financial Instrument
for the Environment (LIFE+).
During the debate in plenary on 23 October 2006
the rapporteur presented a report containing 31 amendments to
the Council's Common Position. All amendments were adopted by
a large majority together with an additional amendment asking
the Commission to ensure that provisional measures were put into
place to avoid a financing gap for current activities.
The main issue of contention with the Council
is the delegation of administration of 80% of the funds to Member
States. The European Parliament rejected this approach and wish
the Commission to take the leading role in the instrument's administration.
Other important issues are the European Parliament's wish to increase
the overall budget by €50 million (£33.5 million) to
€1.911 billion (£1.278 billion) and to increase the
proportion of the budget allocated to nature and biodiversity
from 40% to 55%. There are several minor amendments which are
acceptable as written, or in principle, to both the Council and
the Commission.
The Commission, Council and European Parliament
will now enter into discussions in trialogue to make progress
on the outstanding issues. At present no timetable has been set
for these discussions.
I will, of course, inform the Committee once
we have new lines for the negotiation.
21 November 2006
Letter from Ian Pearson MP to the Chairman
I am writing to update you on the conciliation
process for the proposed Regulation on the Financial Instrument
for the Environment (LIFE+).
Following informal discussions between the Presidency
and the European Parliament a formal conciliation meeting took
place on 27 March 2007 and agreement was reached on the LIFE+
Regulation.
The main points agreed which are different from
the Council's Common Position are:
— The overall budget is increased by
€40 million to €1.894 billion (2004 prices). The European
Parliament wanted an extra €50 million allocated to the programme
but agreed to leaving €10 million in the margin for the budget
heading.
— The Commission will now administer
the programme instead of delegating 80% of the budget to Member
States to administer through National Agencies.
— At least 78% of the budget shall
be used for project action grants. The remaining 22% will be spent
by the Commission on cross-cutting measures and the administration
of the programme. This is essentially the same as the Common Position
where 80% was to be delegated to Member States of which 2% was
allowed towards the administration costs. The Commission will
now use 2% of the budget for administration leaving 78% for project
action grants.
— At least 50% of the budgetary resources
dedicated to project action grants shall be allocated to support
the conservation of nature and biodiversity. This is similar to
the Common Position where 40% of the total budget was to be used
for nature and biodiversity.
— The Commission shall endeavour to
ensure that at least 15% of the budget for project action grants
is allocated to transnational projects.
Overall, this was a good outcome for the UK
with the final agreements on the main issues being within our
negotiating lines.
26 April 2007
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