REPORT on Draft amending budget No 8/2008 of the European Union for the financial year 2008

19.11.2008 - (15765/2008 – C6‑0426/2008 – 2008/2287(BUD))

Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee
Committee on Budgets
Rapporteur: Ville Itälä

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on Draft amending budget No 8/2008 of the European Union for the financial year 2008, Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee

(15765/2008 – C6‑0426/2008 – 2008/2287(BUD))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to Article 272 of the EC Treaty and Article 177 of the Euratom Treaty,

–   having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities[1], and particularly Articles 37 and 38,

–   having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2008, as finally adopted on 13 December 2007[2],

–   having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management[3],

–   having regard to Preliminary draft amending budget No 9/2008 of the European Union for the financial year 2008, which the Commission presented on 6 October 2008 (COM(2008)0619),

–   having regard to Draft amending budget No 8/2008, which the Council established on 18 November (15765/2008 – C6‑0426/2008),

–   having regard to Rule 69 of and Annex IV to its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A6‑0453/2008),

A. whereas Draft amending budget No 8 to the general budget 2008 concerns only the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and covers the budgetary adjustments resulting from the fact that the increase in salaries and pensions was lower than that used as a basis for drawing up the 2008 preliminary draft,

B.  whereas the principle of presenting an amending budget updating technical data which served to establish the budget in the first place, with a view to returning funds to the taxpayer, is to be welcomed, although, in this case, the cost of the procedure may unfortunately exceed the actual money to be returned,

1.  Takes note of Preliminary draft amending budget No 8/2008, which reduces the Economic and Social Committee's 2008 budget (costs) by some EUR 318 262 and its revenue by EUR 48 265;

2.  Approves Draft amending budget No 8/2008 unamended;

3.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.

• [1]  OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
• [2]  OJ L 71, 14.3.2008.
• [3]  OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Council had requested that the Institutions update their budgets, as regards salaries in particular, given the fact that the technical annual adjustment resulted in somewhat lower increases than foreseen (lower inflation) and that this had led to certain "surpluses" in the corresponding budget lines for 2008. The rapporteur welcomes this philosophy as it will return over-budgeted monies to the taxpayer although, in this particular case, it is questionable whether the amounts involved actually warranted such an administrative procedure. This does not, however, detract from the principle and now that the Economic & Social Committee has followed the Council's advice and all preparations have been made, he can only recommend speedy approval without amendment.

PROCEDURE

Title	Draft amending budget No 8/2008 of the European Union for the financial year 2008 - Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee
References	15765/2008 – C6‑0426/2008 – 2008/2287(BUD)
Committee responsible   Date announced in plenary	BUDG 19.11.2008
Committee(s) asked for opinion(s)   Date announced in plenary
Rapporteur(s)   Date appointed	Ville Itälä 13.12.2006
Previous rapporteur(s)
Date draft amending budget established by the Council	10.11.2008
Date draft amending budget forwarded by the Council	18.11.2008
Discussed in committee	5.11.2008		10.11.2008
Date adopted	10.11.2008
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	17
Members present for the final vote	Reimer Böge, Simon Busuttil, Paulo Casaca, Salvador Garriga Polledo, Catherine Guy-Quint, Jutta Haug, Ville Itälä, Anne E. Jensen, Alain Lamassoure, Janusz Lewandowski, Vladimír Maňka, Jan Mulder, Nina Škottová, Helga Trüpel, Kyösti Virrankoski, Ralf Walter
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Esther De Lange
Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote
Date tabled	19.11.2008
Comments (available in one language only)	...