Activites

• 2000/02/14 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Budget 2000/81
  • OJ L 040 14.02.2000, p. 0001
• 1999/12/16 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T5-0179/1999 summary

    In adopting the report by Mr Jean-Louis BOURLANGES (EPP/ED, F), the European Parliament approved its second reading a budget for the year 2000 of EUR 93,2 billion in commitment appropriations (that is a reduction of 1,37%) and EUR 89,3 billion in payment (that is a rise of 4,48%). In comparison with 1999, there is a reduction of 3,7% of the budget. It should be noted that the framework of the budgetary discipline is respected and that the accent is put on strengthening rural development, research policy, and culture. Pre-accession aid rises from EUR 1,3 billion to EUR 3 billion. The 2000 budget, as voted in its second reading, includes many positive elements from the Parliament's point of view: - technical and administrative reform of the technical assistance offices; - financing of "Kosovo" expenditure above the ceiling of heading 4, which permits the avoiding of the redeployment of appropriations at the interior of this budget heading thanks to the use of the flexibility instrument (see procedure 1999/0210/ACI); - a rise in payment appropriations in order to gradually reduce the gap that exists between the inflated commitment appropriations and the inadequate payment appropriations; - the adoption of certain measures (reconstruction of East Timor, aid to Turkey, future fishing Agreement with Morocco, distribution of milk in schools, distribution of food products to the least well off...) close to the Parliament's heart. On the other hand, the Parliament is frustrated concerning long-term aid to Kosovo. In fact, the Parliament sought an exact, realistic and serious assessment of needs of the province; it did not get this. It also wanted a multi-annual commitment from the Council; it did not get this. In addition, it sought, in the long-term, a revision of the financial perspectives; it obtained a declaration promising this, but not a firm commitment from the Council. In this case, the European Parliament succeeded with respect to the use of the flexibility instrument but this will only be valid for a year (the year 2000). By 2001, the European Parliament will no longer be able to use this flexibility instrument for Kosovo. A revision of financial perspectives will be necessary from 2001. Thus, it accepts the compromise proposed by the Council which seeks to finance the reconstruction of Kosovo to the amount of EUR 360 million in the year 2000, by leaving a margin of EUR 20 million under the ceiling of heading 4 and undertakes to proceed, if necessary, to a redeployment of appropriations of EUR 40 million. Lastly, it calls on the Commission to present by April 2000 at the latest a very clear evaluation of the financial needs of Kosovo and for the whole of the Western Balkans, as well as the consequences of this evaluation in budgetary terms (in particular an eventual revision of the financial perspectives).�

• 1999/12/14 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 1999/12/13 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• 1999/12/07 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A5-0095/1999
• #2223
• 1999/11/26 Council Meeting
• 1999/11/26 Council amended draft budget published
  • 13476/1999
• 1999/10/28 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0076/1999 summary

    The European Parliament adopted its resolution on the 2000 Budget, Section III. Its rapporteur was Mr. Jean-Louis BOURLANGES (EPP, F). The Parliament voted through a series of amendments to bring the new figures for EU expenditures in 2000 up to 93.5 billion euros in commitments and 91.4 billion in payments. The Parliament confirmed its commitment to the Inter- Institutional Agreement (IIA), but is concerned at the growing disparity between the needs to be covered by the EU budget, which are increasing as a result of the extension in powers provided for by the Treaty of Amsterdam and the planned geographical enlargement of the EU, and the structural contraction of Community spending resulting from the financial perspective, contraction being reflected in a regular reduction in the percentage of GDP allocated to the Community budget. It, therefore, deplores the Council's tendency to have new priorities financed by unjustifiably sacrificing traditional priorities. It takes the view that the principle of sufficient resources must be fully respected, since the EU must have the financial resources needed to realise its ambitions and address the new challenges now facing it. It points out that the 2000 budgetary procedure has seen the emergence of major needs which were not taken into account either in the financial perspective annexed to the IIA of 06/05/1999 or in the preliminary draft budget submitted by the Commission. It underscores its determination to ensure that the 2000 budget finances the new priorities, i.e.: - participation in the Kosovo reconstruction effort (500 million euros); - conclusion of a fair fisheries agreement with Morocco (125 million euros); - the Union's financial contribution to Turkey in response to the earthquake damage (50 million euros); and - Europe's financial contribution to East Timor (50 million euros). It regards these new needs as an essential priority for the 2000 budget and calls on the Commission to submit a proposal to revise the financial perspective, and the Council to agree to it. It points out to the Commission that the EP's first reading has greatly helped to give backing to the position set out in the PDB by deleting most of the cuts made by the Council. Parliament supports the Commission's figures for agriculture and regional and social spending, where it has re-inserted the cuts made by the Council. Members also voted to increase funding for the school milk programme. As far as other budgetary lines are concerned, Parliament has voted for increases in the Youth and Culture and Environment budgets, and has supported expenditure to allow other projects to go ahead in the new Third Pillar area of freedom, security and justice. MEPs also want the Commission to come forward with more information with regard to research spending. As regards administrative expenditure, MEPs want to see the recommendations made by the Committee of Experts put into place as as possible, starting with the phasing out of the technical assistance offices responsible for organisingforeign aid. MEPs also called for 75 extra posts for the anti-fraud office, OLAF.�

• 1999/10/26 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 1999/10/19 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A5-0030/1999
• 1999/09/14 Council draft budget published
  • 09928/1999 summary

    The draft budget drawn up by the Council for administrative expenditure and the other Community institutions amounts to 4.664 billion euros for all the institutions (of which 1.635 billion euros for the other institutions, including the European Parliament and the Ombudsman). The margin provided by the Council's draft budget is 157 million euros and represents an increase of 3.6% in comparison with 1999. The draft budget covers the needs for new posts of all the institutions (including the Commission), it being understood that the possible new Statute for Members of the European Parliament should be financed in part from this allocation. In particular, it provides for 63 additional permanent posts for the Council (12), the Court of Justice (45) and the ESC/CoR (6). As far as the Commission is concerned, the request for new posts will be the subject of letters of amendment to the preliminary draft budget (see BUD982186). The Council refers to the difficulties encountered by the other institutions to not exceed the 1.9% increase allowed for by the Commission for current operating expenditure that result from the need to cover expenses linked to the imperative adaptation of salaries of their officials such as provided for in the existing provisions of the Statute. As a consequence, the Council asked the Commission to propose a text seeking to revise the Statute of officials with respect to the system of remunerations. This modification would also include a chapter dealing with the reform of the pensions system with a view to including savings measures. The Council has applied the principle of budgetary rigour to the budgets of the other institutions and applied the following principles for the drawing up of its draft budget: 1) limited growth in expenses with an unavoidable exception (entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, renewal of the mandate of the members of certain institutions); 2) limited creating of posts which would be focused on certain sectors following maximum redeployment; 3) refusal to convert or regrade in the name of careers policy; 4) keeping the standard rate of abatement at its current level. In the Council's draft budget, the creation of posts was offset as far as possible by a reduction in C posts in favour of A posts. Lastly, measures were taken to give certain tasks to external organisations and with a view to changing certain contracts of external advisers in temporary posts. As far as the OLAF (Community Anti-Fraud Office) is concerned, the Council decided to provide for the necessary staff via redeployment within part A of the budget on headings 1, 2, 5 and 7 of the Union's budget.�

• 1999/04/28 Commission preliminary draft budget published
  • SEC(1999)0600 summary

    PURPOSE: presentation of the preliminary draft budget of the European Communities for the financial year 2000 (other sections). Given the limited margin of manoeuvre available for administrative expenditure under the ceilings agreed at the Berlin European Council, the Commission has decided not to ask for any new posts (including for the Fraud Prevention Office). It will be for the new Commission to make any additional requests if the negotiations finally result in a more generous financial framework in this area. For this heading, the amounts are limited to those fixed in the context of the financial perspectives : 4,638 million euros (2,491.2 million euros for the Commission). To comply with the ceiling laid down, the rate of increase for administrative appropriations has had to be confined to the absolute minimum necessary.�

• 1999/03/23 Debate in Parliament
  • T4-0217/1999 summary

    The Parliament approved the resolution drafted by Mr. Jean-Louis BOURLANGES (EPP, F) concerning the guidelines for the 2000 budget with the priorities of supporting jobs, helping small firms, and a strong EU research and education policy. Following the report of the Independent Experts, the resolution draws attention to the need to make available adequate provision for staff resources.�

• 1999/03/11 Preparatory budgetary report tabled for plenary
  • A4-0109/1999
• 1999/03/11 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading

Documents

• Preparatory budgetary report tabled for plenary: A4-0109/1999
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0217/1999
• Commission preliminary draft budget published: SEC(1999)0600
• Council draft budget published: 09928/1999
• Budgetary report tabled for plenary, 1st reading: A5-0030/1999
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0076/1999
• Council amended draft budget published: 13476/1999
• Budgetary report tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A5-0095/1999
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T5-0179/1999
• : Budget 2000/81
• : OJ L 040 14.02.2000, p. 0001

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)