LEONARDO DA VINCI II goes full speed ahead
To safeguard the final adoption of the LEONARDO DA VINCI II programme by the Council of Ministers as soon as possible, the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs has approved the European Commission decision to withdraw its backing for some amendments adopted by the Parliament at a second reading of the programme. As one delegation in the Council has reservations about the new financial perspective, the Council cannot take a decision that differs from the Commission proposal. To allow the proposal to be adopted by a qualified majority, the Commission will now change its proposal so that it corresponds to the Council's position. Although problems related to the Technical Assistance Office (TAO) remain, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs wanted to push forwards this solution which will guarantee that LEONARDO DA VINCI II can start as planned at the beginning of next year.