Text tabled : A6-0082/2008

  Jean-Pierre Audy (PPE-DE), in writing. – (FR) I voted in favour of the report by my excellent Polish colleague Janusz Lewandowski on the 2009 budget guidelines for the ‘other sections’, namely the European Parliament, but also the Council, the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the European Ombudsman and the European Data Protection Supervisor.

This document outlines the major challenges that will be on Parliament’s agenda between now and 2009, notably the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Every effort must be made to ensure that Parliament’s enhanced responsibilities following the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty are taken into account in the budget. Measures must be taken to improve communication with the citizens, especially at local level and on three projects: the Visitors’ Centre, the Audiovisual Centre and the Web TV project. Finally, I wonder whether, prior to the budgetary procedures, we should perhaps carry out an audit of the human resources allocated to European parliamentary activities.

The European Parliament’s political responsibilities are constantly increasing and it is crucial that the Members have the means to work completely independently.