European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2016 on the Council position on Draft amending budget No 3/2016 of the European Union for the financial year 2016: Security of the Institutions (12600/2016 – C8-0409/2016 – 2016/2121(BUD))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,
– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002(1), and in particular Article 41 thereof,
– having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, as definitively adopted on 25 November 2015(2),
– having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(3),
– having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(4),
– having regard to Draft amending budget No 3/2016, which the Commission adopted on 30 June 2016 (COM(2016)0310),
– having regard to the position on Draft amending budget No 3/2016 which the Council adopted on 11 October 2016 and forwarded to Parliament on 11 October 2016 (12600/2016 – C8‑0409/2016),
– having regard to the letter of the President of the Parliament to the President of the Commission of 7 June 2016, in particular to its paragraph 3,
– having regard to its statement on the application of Point 27 of the Interinstitutional Agreement which is part of the joint conclusions reached in the framework of the conciliation process for the 2016 budget on 14 November 2015,
– having regard to Rules 88 and 91 of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0295/2016),
A. whereas recent terror attacks have led the Union institutions to review their security needs and to identify the need for additional resources already in 2016;
B. whereas Draft amending budget No 3/2016 consequently proposes to reinforce the budget for security by a total amount of EUR 15,8 million in the European Schools, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European External Action Service;
C. whereas, in particular, Draft amending budget No 3/2016 aims to create 35 additional permanent posts for the recruitment of additional security agents in the European Parliament; whereas such posts should be maintained in the 2017 budget and exempt from the 5 % staff reduction target, as they correspond to a new activity; whereas Parliament fully respects its statement on the 5 % staff reduction annexed to the joint conclusions on the 2016 budget;
1. Takes note of Draft amending budget No 3/2016, as submitted by the Commission;
2. Approves the Council position on Draft amending budget No 3/2016;
3. Instructs its President to declare that Amending budget No 3/2016 has been definitively adopted and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;
4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Court of Auditors and the national parliaments.