European Parliament calls for 240 million euro more for LIFE The European Parliament approved a common position with the Council of the European Communities on 16 February calling for a further 240 million euro to go to the EU's LIFE III programme for the protection of the environment. The approval came at the second reading of 14 ame... The European Parliament approved a common position with the Council of the European Communities on 16 February calling for a further 240 million euro to go to the EU's LIFE III programme for the protection of the environment. The approval came at the second reading of 14 amendments to the LIFE III programme, which were tabled by the Environment committee. One of the amendments calls for an increase in funding for LIFE III from 613 million euro to 850 million euro between 2000 and 2004. The amendments will now enter the conciliation phase. The LIFE programme provides financial support for environmental measures in the EU and third countries. It is divided into three sections: LIFE-Nature; LIFE-Environment; and LIFE-Third countries. The first phase of the programme (LIFE I) ran from 1992 to 1995 with a budget of 400 million euro. For LIFE II (1996 to 1999) the budget increased to 450 million euro.
