20. Is concerned that the total 2007 IPA allocations for Component II amounted to only EUR 38 800 000 out of a total IPA of EUR 497 200 000 (that is, less than 8 %); points out that this contradicts the Commission's assertion that cross-border cooperation helps reconciliation and good neighbourly relations and is particularly relevant in a region with a recent history of conflict; regrets that effective cooperation has been difficult to establish, in practice, for a number of reasons, including mismatches of structures and procedures between some partners, as well as political difficulties; calls on the beneficiary countries and the Commission, under this component, to pursue further existing cooperation and to ...[+++]develop new cooperation, in line with the objective of fostering good neighbourly relations and promoting economic integration, especially in the fields of the environment, the natural and cultural heritage and the fight against corruption and organised crime;

For example, I am open to putting into the envelope certain ideas concerning innovation and the restructuring of wine sellers, but I think we still need to keep a clear demarcation line between what is possible within the national envelopes and what is possible within rural development policy, to avoid a situation where you can actually finance an investment from both sides, what is called the ‘double guichet ’.

3. Starting from levels of appropriations for the relevant budget lines in budget 2003, the Commission proposed a total multi-annual budget of EUR 30,92 million for grants and technical assistance. The breakdown of the total budget was: Part 1 - 18%; Part 2 - 75%; Part 3 - 7%.

17. The Decision already splits the financial reference amount into two fixed allocations for the two strands of the Programme, i.e. projects of common interest and horizontal measures.

The Member States must allocate at least 50% of their national envelope to cross-border cooperation (Strand A).

As regards the Leader+ Community Initiative (2000-2006), the Committee found the overall plan effective and innovative and hoped it would receive (the first strand: territorial strategies for rural development) the largest financial allocation.