The committee adopted the report by Encarnación REDONDO JIMÉNEZ (EPP-ED, E) amending the Council's common position under the 2nd reading of the codecision procedure. It reinstated a number of amendments adopted by Parliament at 1st reading. These focused in particular on the importance of fire prevention measures and the financing of the programme:
- the objectives of the scheme should include continuing and developing forest fire prevention measures as well as protection measures;
- it should be specifically stated that the new scheme will continue the prevention measures introduced by Regulation (EEC) No. 2158/92;
- funding for the period 2003-2006 should be EUR 67 million (rather than EUR 52m as proposed), provided that the budgetary authority agrees on the appropriate means of financing under the annual procedure and the Financial Perspective. For the period 2007-2008 the amount should be increased to cover the costs of new actions not yet implemented;
- funding should be increased proportionately in the case of accession of new Member States and a corresponding adjustment should be made to the financial ceiling.
The committee also stressed once again that information on areas at risk should be collected not only at Community level but also at cross-border level, principally in countries bordering the Member States.�