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) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities(1), and in particular, Articles 37 and 38 thereof,

–   having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2003, as finally adopted on 19 December 2002(2),

–   having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure(3),

–   having regard to the Draft Amending Budget No 1/2003, which the Commission presented on 26 February 2003 (SEC(2003) 230),

–   having regard to the Draft Amending Budget No 1/2003, which the Council established on 8 April 2003 (8125/2003 - C5-0232/2003),

–   having regard to Rule 92 of and Annex IV to its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A5-0173/2003),

A.   whereas the Draft Amending Budget No 1/2003 proposes to create a budget line for a new information campaign, within the Prince programme, to be entitled "The role of Europe in the world",

B.   whereas this proposal would have to be funded, in 2003, through a transfer of appropriations from already existing information activities, which have been duly adopted by Parliament, and which Parliament expects the Commission to implement fully and effectively,

C.   whereas, in its resolution of 10 April 2003 on an information strategy for the EU, it has already pronounced itself in favour of including such a proposal in the general budgetary procedure for 2004(4),

D.   whereas this latter approach would allow for full consultation of Parliament in the shaping and financing of such a campaign,

E.   whereas the Draft Amending Budget No 1/2003 also seeks to modify the title and remarks of line A-3014, so as to align it with comparable actions under the same budgetary chapter,

F.   whereas the Commission's Preliminary Draft Amending Budget No 1/2003 also contained a request for additional appropriations (through the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument, for an amount of EUR 32 million) for supplementary measures for scrapping fishing vessels, and whereas this element has not been retained by the Council,

1.  Takes note of the proposal to create a new budget line for an information campaign on "The role of Europe in the world" within the Prince programme; is of the opinion that the most appropriate way to proceed, in order to ensure Parliament's involvement in the shaping of the political guidelines necessary for such a campaign, is for the Commission to make the appropriate proposals in the budget procedure for 2004, rather than introducing the campaign prematurely through an Amending Budget;

2.  Recalls its willingness to receive such proposals in the 2004 budget procedure, as already expressed in its aforementioned resolution of 10 April 2003;

3.  Notes that there is currently no agreement within the Council on how to proceed with the financing of the fisheries measures contained in the Commission's Preliminary Draft Amending Budget No 1/2003 and that, consequently, the Council has not retained this part of the Commission's proposal;

4.  Urges the Council to indicate how the reform of the fisheries sector will be financed and is ready to study proposals on this matter, including the use of the means foreseen in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999;

5.  Agrees with the proposal to change the title and remarks of budget line A-3014 (European Master's courses in human rights and democratisation) so as to harmonise it with other beneficiaries under that chapter;

6.  Welcomes the budgetary decision to introduce an amendment to the Council Draft Amending Budget No 1/2003;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution and the amendment to Draft Amending Budget No 1/2003, to the Council and the Commission.

(1) 1 OJ L 248, 16.09.2002. (2) 2 OJ L 54, 28.02.2003. (3) 3 OJ C 172, 18.06.1999, p. 1. (4) 1 P5_TA(2003)0187.