Report - A6-0398/2008Report
A6-0398/2008
European Parliament

REPORT on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009

14.10.2008 - (C6‑0309/2008 – 2008/2026(BUD))

and Letter of amendment No 1/2009 (SEC(2008)2435) to the preliminary draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
Section III – Commission
Part 1: Motion for a resolution
Committee on Budgets
Rapporteur: Jutta Haug

Procedure : 2008/2026(BUD)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A6-0398/2008
Texts tabled :
A6-0398/2008
Debates :
Votes :
Texts adopted :

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009, Section III – Commission (C6‑0309/2008 – 2008/2026(BUD)) and Letter of amendment No 1/2009 (SEC(2008)2435) to the preliminary draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009

The European Parliament,

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

–   having regard to Council Decision 2000/597/EC, Euratom of 29 September 2000 on the system of the European Communities' own resources[1],

–   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[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 its resolution of 24 April 2008 on the Commission's Annual Policy Strategy for 2009[4],

–   having regard to its resolution of 24 April 2008 on the budgetary framework and priorities for 2009[5],

–   having regard to its resolution of 8 July 2008 on the 2009 budget: First reflections on the 2009 Preliminary Draft Budget and mandate for the conciliation, Section III - Commission[6],

–   having regard to the preliminary draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009 which the Commission presented on 16 May 2008 (COM(2008)0300),

–   having regard to the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009, which the Council established on 17 July 2008 (C6‑0309/2008),

–   having regard to Letter of amendment No 1/2009 (SEC(2008)2435) to the preliminary draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009,

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

-    having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets and the opinions of the other committees concerned (A6-0398/2008),

Key issues

1.  Recalls that its political priorities and its assessment of the budgetary framework for the year 2009 were set out in its two abovementioned resolutions of 24 April 2008; notes that these two resolutions provided a sound basis for its ensuing first evaluation of the Commission's preliminary draft budget (PDB) for 2009, as set out in its abovementioned PDB resolution adopted on 8 July 2008; recalls that Parliament, in this resolution, was highly critical of the low level of payment appropriations and of the small margins available in most of the headings of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF);

2.  Welcomes the agreement of six joint statements, annexed to this Resolution, of the European Parliament and Council at the first reading conciliation on the 2009 budget of 17 July 2008; has taken them into account in the preparation of its amendments to the draft budget; points out, however, that on some issues, such as the evaluation of agencies, no joint position with Council has yet been reached;

3.  Deplores the fact that Council has reduced an already low-level PDB even further: commitment appropriations in the draft budget total EUR 133 933 million which represents a decrease relative to PDB of EUR 469 million, and payment appropriations of EUR 114 972 million lie a full EUR 1 771 million beneath PDB corresponding to 0,89% of GNI, bringing payments down to an unprecedentedly low level; underlines that this has even further increased the disparity between the level of commitments and payments, which is contrary to the principle of equilibrium;

4.  Calls for the ceiling for heading 4 to be adjusted at the first opportunity to correspond to actual needs; deplores the fact that Council is not willing to budget appropriately in this way;

5.  Supports Letter of amendment No 1 to the PDB 2009 adopted by the Commission on 9 September 2008, as it seems to give a slightly more realistic picture of needs in heading 4 than the PDB; regrets, however, that due to the constraints of the MFF 2007 - 2013 it is not in a position to take over new unforeseen and urgent needs such as food aid and the reconstruction needs of Georgia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Palestine; underlines that it is only recourse to the possibilities provided for by the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (IIA) and firm political determination which is an absolute necessity to allow the EU to fulfil its commitments undertaken in the external policy area;

6.  Considers that the figure adopted by Council for payment appropriations is far from being coherent with the various EU political priorities and commitments; expresses its astonishment that Council can officially propose a mere 0,89% of GNI in payments, given an overall RAL of already EUR 139 000 million in 2007; in consequence, decides to increase the overall level of payments to XXX;

7.  Is of the opinion that the EU budget in its present format cannot address effectively and realistically the goals that the EU has set for climate change; considers that European citizens need a tangible European initiative to face the consequences of climate change; deplores the fact that the support to climate change measures is still very limited in the EU budget; is convinced that a serious effort should be made to increase and concentrate adequate financial resources to boost European leadership in facing the consequences of climate change; invites the Commission to present, by 15 March 2009, an ambitious plan for an adequate increase of climate change funds which considers the establishment of a specific "climate change fund" or the creation of a dedicated budget line which would improve the budget capability to deal with these issues, especially by mitigation, adaptation and stabilisation measures; believes that the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) should also be considered as a potential resource at EU level;

8.  Is not prepared to accept any kind of new earmarking in the remarks of Budget 2009; has therefore deleted all proposed new references to concrete amounts and/or to individually named organisations or bodies, since such earmarkings are not in line with the Financial Regulation;

9.  Has decided to accept Council's small cuts in the administrative expenditure lines of some multi-annual programmes given the fact that the Commission itself frequently reallocates funds from these lines by transfer in a general clearing exercise; stresses, however, that these reductions in one annual budgetary procedure must under no circumstances lead to reductions in the overall co-decided envelopes of the programmes concerned; insists that the Commission compensate for the amounts reduced in later years of the programme period;

10. Considers growth and employment, the fight against climate change and strengthening the safety and security of the European Union's citizens and its social dimension, for instance through the growth for jobs initiative and the support for SMEs and for research and innovation, as well as by supporting cohesion amongst regions, to be important priorities of Budget 2009; will reinforce appropriations on budget lines financing these priorities in line with its previous resolutions;

On sub-heading 1a

11. Is astonished by Council's additional cuts on lines supporting the Lisbon strategy which is, after all, based on a European Council decision; points out that the objectives of growth and employment are at the very core of the Lisbon strategy and that the Commission, in its PDB, had already decreased some lines compared to the previous year;

12. Will do its utmost to secure adequate financing for all activities and policies under this heading which can bring direct and tangible advantages for European citizens; is prepared to use all the available margin to finance pilot projects and preparatory actions in this sub-heading;

13. Concerning the European Institute of Technology and Innovation (EIT), cannot accept the Commission's attempt to reverse the decisions taken by the budgetary authority in the 2008 budget; will therefore insist that the budget of the EIT be included in policy area "Research" and that its governing structure, being of an administrative nature, be financed under heading 5 of the MFF; decides to change the nomenclature accordingly;

14. Stresses that the disbursement of funds from budget line 06 03 04 (TENs Energy) and accordance of TEN-E status to any gas pipeline or project that facilitates the transmission of gas from Russia or from entities ultimately controlled by Russia shall be conditional on the realisation of the NG3 Route, as confirmed by the EU Co-ordinator;

On sub-heading 1b

15. Reiterates the importance it attaches to the solidarity principle within the European Union; intends to make every effort to guarantee sufficient funding for cohesion policy in order to be able to deal with current and future challenges;

16. Underlines that this sub-heading finances numerous important policies and activities aimed at fighting climate change and supporting growth for jobs;

17. Regrets that the PDB has been cut by Council in particular as regards European Social Fund financing devoted to regional competitiveness and employment; reminds Council that the Lisbon strategy is based on joint efforts from both the European Union's and the Member States' budgets;

On heading 2

18. Notes that the Commission has claimed that the fight against climate change is one of its priorities for Budget 2009; considers, however, that this priority is not sufficiently reflected in the PDB and intends, consequently, to put stronger emphasis on this key policy; proposes, for reasons of visibility, to allocate appropriations in one specific budget line solely for this purpose; will top up resources going to LIFE+ and to the European Rural Development Fund accordingly;

19. Takes note of the recent proposals by the Commission on the CAP health check and defends the view that any modulation from the first to the second pillar must remain budgetarily neutral;

20. Notes the creation of budget lines for three new funds in the common agricultural and fisheries policy ‑ the fund for restructuring in the dairy sector, the Eco-Aid to maintain sheep and goat farming in the EU and the ad-hoc financial instrument – Adaptation of the fishing fleet to the economic consequences of the rise in fuel prices ‑ all of which have been created with the aim of adapting to new situations and opening up opportunities for the future, particularly in disadvantaged and sensitive regions; considers that these funds should primarily be financed from unused agriculture budget appropriations;  

21. Notes with satisfaction that Council and Commission are finally willing to establish a school fruit scheme, making available a substantial annual amount to fight obesity and health problems amongst pupils, but deplores the fact that one year has been lost because this European Parliament initiative was rejected by Council in Budget 2008;

On sub-heading 3a

22. Acknowledges European citizens' wish for a safe and secure Europe and welcomes the increases in this sub-heading relative to Budget 2008; points out the importance of the principle of solidarity and of safeguarding the highest level of protection of fundamental rights;

23. Stresses the importance of further funding being made available via the EU budget to manage legal immigration and integration of third country nationals while, in parallel, tackling illegal immigration and strengthening border protection, including the strengthening of the European Refugee Fund to facilitate solidarity between the Member States;

On sub-heading 3b

24. Recalls that sub-heading 3b covers vital policies that have a direct impact on the everyday life of European citizens; reiterates its disappointment about the low increase compared to 2008 proposed by the Commission for this sub-heading, especially for those activities that are important for a citizens' Europe, some of which have even suffered a decrease in their budgets;

25. Cannot accept that Council has cut these "citizens' lines" even further, and will make sure that adequate resources are guaranteed in this important area; points out that it will make use of the small remaining margin in this sub-heading to finance pilot projects and preparatory actions to boost this policy area;

On heading 4

26. Notes the significant re-shuffling of funds carried out by Council in heading 4 and considers this a strong indication of the serious shortage of resources available under the MFF ceiling; points out that heading 4 ceilings will make regular recourse to the provisions of the IIA more and more necessary; believes that the funds available do not, as they stand, allow the European Union to assume its role as a global partner;

27. Calls on the European Council not to make far-reaching political commitments, as for example in its Presidency conclusions of 20 June 2008, in which the heads of State and government called for stronger EU financial support to developing countries, or to commit, at the same time, to the necessary budgetary suggestions and actions when there is an obvious contradiction with the funds available under the annual ceilings of the current MFF;

28. Reiterates its assessment of the urgent need for a massive and concrete mobilisation of the European Union to tackle soaring food prices and the resulting food crisis and reiterates the need to respond in an sound budgetary way; recalls that the available margins under heading 2 cannot be spent for heading 4 purposes since the current ceiling of heading 4 does not suffice to finance the instrument without jeopardising existing priorities; considers that the two branches of the budgetary authority should make every effort and examine all possibilities provided for in the IIA to finance the amounts foreseen for food aid under heading 4; nevertheless recalls that the final decision on the financial envelope will be taken in the course of the annual budgetary procedure, and will be linked to an overall assessment of current instruments for cooperation policy with developing countries;

29. Continues to count support for the peace process in Palestine and for Kosovo amongst its unchanged key priorities for which sufficient resources have to be entered in the EU budget; notes, however, that such an adequate level of funding might require re-programming under heading 4, with some budgetary compensation being provided by other budget lines; recalls the importance of a functioning public administration which is needed to guarantee the special care necessary to ensure proper use of EU funds;

30. Welcomes the reinstatement of resources on the line for financial support for encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community; also welcomes the support for the exhumation, identification and return of remains of missing persons in Cyprus;

31. Supports the police mission launched under the European Security and Defence Policy in Kosovo; however, asks the Commission to provide a concrete plan and timetable for the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), in particular with respect to the take-over of tasks from the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the related human resources needs and costs as well as the cooperation with the European Commission Liaison Office in Kosovo (ECLO); further, asks the Commission to provide detailed information on the training given to the local forces;

32. Underlines its will to assist Georgia in its lengthy and costly reconstruction process, and to take an active part in finding an appropriate financial solution as expressed in its resolution of 3 September 2008 on the situation in Georgia[7]; therefore urges the Commission to present proposals fulfilling the EU's commitments, also in the case of Belarus; insists, therefore, on observance of the politically and financially sound principle of new financing for new needs; notes in this connection the Commission's intention to consider the provision of up to EUR 500 million in the period from 2008 to 2010 inclusive and, if necessary, pledge these funds in connection with a donor conference for Georgia;

33. Notes the growing importance of the Energy Community and welcomes Turkey's intention to join it; is of the opinion that the entry of Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia into the Energy Community should be facilitated and the energy solidarity measures between its existing and future members should be developed; awaits the Commission report to be presented in 2009 on the experiences gained from the implementation of Council Decision 2006/500/EC of 29 May 2006 on the conclusion by the European Community of the Energy Community Treaty[8] ;

34. Points out that the EU priority of combating climate change has also an external component and that relevant activities, such as those in connection with the Global Climate Change Alliance, are to be financed under heading 4;

35. Underlines that the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has proven to be an effective financing mechanism but deplores that the Global Fund is not an implementing agent; reminds the Commission that in order to effectively implement Global Fund grants, increased financial resources will need to be spent on technical assistance;

36. Reminds Council that the Emergency Aid Reserve is supposed to finance unforeseen emergency needs and believes not only that the appropriations on this budget line are justified but also that the deletion of these appropriations would jeopardise the EU's capacity to react properly to a possible crisis situation in the early months of 2009; therefore restores the PDB for the Emergency Aid Reserve, also in respect of Point 25 of the IIA of 17 May 2006;

On heading 5

37. Will, as a general principle, restore Council's cuts of PDB figures in this heading; notes, however, that it still has some open questions regarding specific aspects of the Commission's allocation of staff among administrative support and coordination functions and possibilities of redeployment, and the need for further information on its building policy; has decided to put some amounts in the reserve in order to make sure that it obtains answers to those questions in due time;

38. Points out that in PDB 2009 an overall amount of EUR 1 120 million is budgeted to finance administrative expenditure outside heading 5; considers this amount quite substantial;

39. Is, in this context, concerned about the fact that the amounts taken from operational programme envelopes in order to finance executive agencies are continually increasing and have already reached a substantial level, financing over 1300 staff in 2009; would like to get a clearer picture of the effects of the creation of executive agencies and the ongoing extensions of their tasks on those parent Directorates General which were responsible for the implementation of the relevant programmes before the executive agencies took over;

40. Notes that current data has shown that, in the Commission's Directorates General, the ratio between staff in administrative support and coordination functions and those which perform operational tasks can vary significantly; asks the Commission for an analysis of the reasons for these discrepancies;

41. Expects to be fully informed of all developments in connection with the so-called "Holmquist" staff reform within the Commission;

42. Asks the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) to continue its efforts to streamline and shorten competition cycles; considers that the appropriate human resources should be provided to EPSO in support of the efforts undertaken to improve its internal procedures and methods and accelerate the management of reserve lists in order to guarantee that it can provide the institutions with the appropriate staff according to needs, including the adequacy of admissibility criteria, notably for AST posts;

43. Calls on the Council to present a calendar for the negotiations with Parliament concerning the Commission's proposals on Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 (OLAF) to strengthen the efficiency of the European Anti-fraud Office and to clarify the legal framework of its mission;

44. Regrets the lack of consistency and coherence regularly noticeable in the communication policy implemented by the Commission's Directorates General; is in favour of the development of a coherent and recognisable "EU identity" to be used in all communication measures; would therefore like to encourage the individual services of the Commission to fine-tune and coordinate all information and communication activities carried out at their level;

45.     Calls on the institutions to coordinate their efforts systematically with a view to:

- making information accessible to citizens on their rights and on how they are acted on in practice in the Member States,

- improving the accessibility and transparency of European law through efficient search tools, through consolidation of texts and by using the best available technical format for at-source formatting of directives, regulations and decisions,

- establishing, on the basis of resources available at both European and national level, a digital library on the European Union;

46. Welcomes the reform of the European Schools' system recently launched by the Commission but urges the Member States to meet their commitments according to the existing agreements; draws attention to Point 47 of the IIA according to which the authorisation of the budgetary authority is required for the creation of new schools having implications for the budget;

47. Underlines the importance of respecting Point 47 of IIA; asks the Commission to work with the budgetary authority on the definition of a proper detailed procedure for its application

48. Calls on the Commission to present the report on the possible solutions concerning the EU gas security and diversification mechanism in the NG3 corridor, including inter alia the possible role of the European Investment Bank in purchasing gas in bulk from non-traditional supplier states (having less than 5% share of the EU market) in the NG3 corridor or in facilitating its purchase, either through direct purchase or through the creation of a purchase entity;

On agencies

49. Welcomes the Commission's decision to finally follow the requests of the budgetary authority and take assigned revenues into account when drawing up the PDB for the decentralised agencies for 2009; considers that this is undoubtedly a step towards more budgetary transparency; reiterates, however, in line with its amendments to the agencies' budgetary remarks of the Budget 2008, that those agencies depending to a large extent on revenue generated by fees should still be able to use the instrument of assigned revenues to give them the budgetary flexibility they need;

50. Points out the fact that smaller sized agencies tend to have a very high share of staff (50% or more) who deal with the internal administration of the agency itself; would consider the cost-efficiency of small agencies to be one of the questions the interinstitutional working group on the future of decentralised agencies that is due to be set up in Autumn 2008 should assess;

51. Has taken note of the EUR 290 million surplus of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market in the current financial year; would like the Commission to reflect on whether it might be appropriate that any excess income of the Office, being a direct consequence of the Internal Market, should flow back into the EU budget;

52. Underlines the fact that the Euratom Supply Agency, as created by the Euratom Treaty, is an independent agency the subsidies for which should be presented in the EU budget in a transparent way;

On pilot projects and preparatory actions

53. Recalls that the IIA allows for a total amount for pilot projects of up to EUR 40 million in any budget year and for a total amount for preparatory actions of up to EUR 100 million out of which a maximum of EUR 50 million can be allocated to new preparatory actions;

54. Considers these projects an indispensable tool for Parliament to initiate new policies that are in the interest of European citizens; has analysed a series of interesting proposals out of which only a small number could be entered into the Budget 2009 due to the constraints of IIA and MFF ceilings;

55. Insists that those proposed projects and actions which have not been included in Budget 2009 due to the fact that, according to the Commission, they are already covered by an existing legal base should really be implemented under this legal base and asks the Commission to report also on those proposals within its report on the pilot projects and preparatory actions; expects the Commission to make every effort in this direction regardless of whether or not the projects and actions will eventually be explicitly mentioned in the relevant remarks of the legal bases of Budget 2009; intends to monitor closely the implementation of these projects and actions under their legal bases during the financial year 2009;

o

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56. Takes note of the opinions adopted by the specialised committees as contained in report A6-xxxx/2008;

57. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, together with the amendments and proposed modifications to Section III of the draft general budget, to the Council and Commission, and also to the other institutions and bodies concerned.

ANNEX

STATEMENTS AGREED AT THE CONCILIATION OF 17 JULY 2008

1.      Structural and Cohesion Funds and rural development 2007-2013 programmes

"The European Parliament and the Council attach the greatest importance to a smooth and good implementation of the operational programmes and projects presented by Member States in relation with the new Structural and Cohesion Funds and rural development programmes for the 2007-2013 period.

In order to avoid repeating experiences from the early phase of the 2000-2006 programming period, acknowledging the approval of most of these operational programmes and projects the European Parliament and the Council consider that it is now very important to ensure smooth and effective implementation by approving the corresponding Management and Control Systems as soon as possible, within the timeframe established by the Regulations.

The European Parliament and the Council will therefore monitor rigorously and on a regular basis the state of approval of these Management and Control Systems in the Member States, together with the state of approval of Major Projects.

To this end, the Commission is requested to continue to provide regularly specific monitoring tools during the budgetary procedure.

The Commission is also asked to present if necessary an updating of its payment forecasts for 2009 at the latest by the end of October 2008."

2.      Recruitment in relation with the 2004 and 2007 enlargement

"The European Parliament and the Council again stress the importance of full recruitment related to the 2004 and 2007 enlargement posts and insist that all efforts should be made by the institutions and specifically by EPSO to ensure that the necessary action is taken to speed up the whole process of filling these posts with officials. The criteria should be as stipulated in Article 27 of the Staff Regulation and aiming to arrive at the broadest possible geographical proportional basis as soon as possible.

The European Parliament and the Council intend to continue to monitor closely the ongoing recruitment process. To this effect, they request each institution and EPSO to report twice a year, in March and October, on the state of affairs regarding recruitments in relation with the 2004 and 2007 enlargement."

3.      EU Solidarity Fund

"The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission confirm the importance of ensuring a smooth process for the adoption of decisions on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund. Therefore the European Parliament and the Council welcome the Commission commitment according to which, as from now, every preliminary draft amending budget required by the mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund will be solely for that purpose."

4.      European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and Emergency Aid Reserve

"The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission confirm the importance of ensuring a rapid procedure with due respect of the Interinstitutional Agreement for the adoption of decisions on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and of the use of the Emergency Aid Reserve."

5.      Declaration on implementation budget in 2009

"In order to ensure a smooth running of the implementation of the budget during 2009 to allow to reduce any difficulty deriving from the end of term of the European Parliament and the recess period for European elections, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission agree on the following points:

Transfers

The Commission will ensure to introduce all requests for transfers on good time for the last ordinary meeting of the Committee on Budgets of the European Parliament, foreseen for the 27 April 2009.

In case this date cannot be met, all requests made after the date will be dealt with by the committee, following appropriate communication under an extraordinary procedure.

Amending budgets

The Council and the Commission take note that urgent and unforeseen decisions might occur during the electoral period; a delegation of competences from the plenary to the committee on budgets could avoid unnecessary delays."

6.      Update of the financial programming under Heading 5

"The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission invite the Secretaries General of all Institutions to present an updated report on the financial programming of administration expenditure under Heading 5 by the end of October."

UNILATERAL DECLARATIONS

1.      Payment appropriations

1.1.   "The Council asks the Commission to submit an amending budget if the appropriations entered in the 2009 budget are insufficient to cover expenditure under sub-Heading 1a (Competitiveness for growth and employment), sub-Heading 1b (Cohesion for growth and employment), Heading 2 (Preservation and management of natural resources) and Heading 4 (EU as a global partner)."

1.2.   "The European Parliament considers that during the procedure, it will evaluate the needs for payments across all headings for the whole year, based on the forecasts available in the different stages of the procedure."

2.      Structural and Cohesion Funds and rural development 2007-2013 programmes

The Commission has been asked to present by the end of October 2008 updated payments forecasts for 2009. Given the degree of uncertainty concerning implementation conditions in Member States, for such an updating the Commission will have to rely also on updated payment forecasts to be provided by Member States.

3.      Evaluation of agencies

3.1    "The Council welcomes the intention of the Commission to launch a thorough evaluation of the regulatory agencies as announced in its Communication "European Agencies - the way forward" from 11 March 2008. It also welcomes the Commission commitment not to make proposals for new regulatory agencies until the conclusion of the evaluation with the exceptions referred to in the above-mentioned communication from the Commission.

The Council and the Commission agree that this evaluation should allow them to assess to what extent the regulatory agencies are an adequate tool, in the context of good governance and sound financial management, for implementing European policies at present and in the future. To this end the evaluation should allow for the comparability of the results in a horizontal manner, when possible on the basis of common indicators.

Moreover, the evaluation should especially address the following issues:

-       the rationale, relevance and purpose of the agencies, in accordance with good governance;

-       the impact, effectiveness and efficiency of the agencies' work, including determining factors such as programming, reporting and monitoring mechanisms;

-       the budgetary process and accountability of the agencies;

The evaluation should also aim to assess:

-       the coherence of the objectives and activities of the agencies with the priorities and objectives of EU policies;

-       the transparency of the agencies' work;

-       the relationship between the agencies and the Commission, and where appropriate the link between regulatory agencies and national ones;

-       the management of the budgetary resources of the agencies.

This evaluation would also provide to the budgetary authority adequate tools and means to assess, in the context of the allocation of the Community contribution during the annual budgetary procedure, the comparability of performance targets, administrative and operational expenditure, evolution of the staff (types and vacancy rate) and impact of the size of the agency.

The Commission intends to take into consideration the position of the Council when defining the scope and terms of reference of this evaluation in order to ensure that the aspects of greatest interest to each institution are covered, especially in the budgetary field. External independent expertise is required in order to ensure reliable, robust and complete results."

3.2.   "The European Parliament welcomes the intention of the Commission to launch a thorough evaluation of the decentralised agencies as announced in its Communication "European Agencies - the way forward" from 11 March 2008.

It considers an interinstitutional working group a viable structure for the constructive and output oriented debate that is necessary for this purpose and underlines that all major actors from the institutional and legislative sphere as well as representatives of the budgetary authority have to participate in this working group to guarantee satisfactory results.

The European Parliament welcomes, in particular, the launching of a thorough evaluation of the decentralised agencies as described in the Communication. This evaluation should allow to assess to what extent the decentralised agencies are an adequate tool, in the context of good governance and sound financial management, for implementing European policies at present and in the future. To this end the evaluation should allow for the comparability of the results in a horizontal manner, when possible on the basis of common indicators.

The prerogatives of the budgetary authority as safeguarded for the creation of new decentralised agencies under Point 47 of the IIA of 17 May 2006 must be fully preserved in the evaluation and control process concerning already existing agencies."

4.      Follow-up of point 32 of the conclusions of the European Council of 19-20 June 2008

"The European Parliament recalls that the financing of new measures must respect the principles laid down in the Financial Regulation (notably specification) and in the IIA of 17 May 2006 (notably the ceilings of the different headings).

It invites the Commission to present the necessary proposals for their financing in the framework of the 2008-2009 budgetary procedures."

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

WORKING DOCUMENT NR 1 ON GENERAL APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY FOR THE BUDGETARY PROCEDURE 2009

GENERAL FRAMEWORK

The budgetary procedure for 2009 has started in a time of many changes. In 2008, the European Institutions prepare for the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, aiming at having all new procedures in place in time for them to be applied as soon as the ratification process is finished. Early 2009 will see the Members of the European Parliament involved in the European election campaigns and the European Commission finalising its work of the last five years.

In autumn 2009, if the Lisbon Treaty should be ratified in time, a newly elected European Parliament will have to follow a completely new budgetary procedure in order to establish an EU budget for 2010 on the basis of a proposal put forward by the current European Commission but with a new European Commission which will officially take up office only in November.

At the same time, and against this general background, the European Parliament has engaged in an extensive exercise in self-assessment and renewal. The Working Party on Parliamentary Reform has already made some interesting and far-reaching proposals which are now in the process of being finalised and, in part, already being implemented. More reflections on other topics are to follow and will profoundly change Parliament's way of working.

One central topic of the Working Party's discussions has been the question of how to better realise Parliament's political priorities. One of the main components for achieving this aim is a thorough alignment of Parliament's legislative and political priorities on the one hand with the budgetary decisions taken in its role as one arm of the budgetary authority on the other hand.

Of course, this is of particular interest for the Committee on Budgets and directly affects its relations to the other EP committees: here, a close and intensive cooperation is a pre-requisite for Parliament to successfully take over its new responsibilities in the institutional framework, on an equal footing with Council.

WORKING METHOD

Your rapporteur for the Budget 2009 will therefore do her utmost to ensure a smooth, general and comprehensive consultation process with all concerned parties at each and every stage of the preparations for next year's budget.

IN COBU

Starting from the first COBU Resolution on the Budgetary Framework and Priorities for 2009 to be discussed and voted in plenary in parallel with the APS resolution of the political groups, your rapporteur would propose to initially concentrate on the general framework for the 2009 budget and have a close look at the Commission's financial programming and the re-programming already partly visible in the Commission's APS document. Given the situation of margins, especially in Headings 1a and 4 of the MFF, the decision on any re-programming that might eventually become necessary is crucial and can only remain the prerogative of the budgetary authority.

The ensuing reflection process should allow COBU to already assess the Commission's Preliminary Draft Budget in great detail with a view to seeing Parliament's priorities duly reflected. The second COBU Resolution on the PDB 2009 scheduled for the July 2008 plenary aims at already making concrete statements down to the level of detail of individual policy areas. For this PDB resolution, your rapporteur would expect substantial input from the other EP committees, be it directly in the form of opinions or indirectly through bi-lateral contacts or rapporteurs' meetings.

WITH THE OTHER COMMITTEES

In order to allow for a real exchange of views with the EP legislative committees with some periods for reflection between the individual rounds of talks, your rapporteur has already invited the other budget rapporteurs for a first multi-lateral meeting in March, to be followed by three more rounds in May, July and September 2008.

These meetings of the budget rapporteurs for 2009 will complement the "traditional" visits to the other committees to which the COBU rapporteur for the annual budgetary procedures is usually invited during the first half of the year.

PILOT PROJECTS

Three multilateral meetings with the other committees before the parliamentary summer recess might allow to fulfil one important provision of the IIA on budgetary discipline and sound financial management, i.e. to present the Commission with a short list of Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions before the autumn so that there is sufficient time at hand for the Commission to give its feedback to Parliament's wishes. This, in return, would allow Parliament some more time to establish a solid, comprehensive and balanced package of the Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions it wishes to be put into practice in the budgetary year 2009.

METHODOLOGY

FACT SHEETS AND INTEGRATED WORKING DOCUMENTS ON POLICY AREAS

For the work outlined above, your rapporteur wants to provide COBU with a set of fact sheets as a common basis for discussion.

These fact sheets on selected policy areas should be considered "Work in Progress" and start out summarising and commenting the most important budgetary data of a given policy area such as volume of resources and implementation rates, multiannual programmes and their budgetary envelopes, budgets and staff of agencies, key information on PP / AP as well as on other relevant budget lines.

The sheets, which will also aid the rapporteur in her meetings with the other committees responsible for each of the policy areas, will then slowly be developed into proper working documents following the discussions in COBU and taking also into account other important in-put such as priorities of the Commission as already identifiable in the APS and legislative priorities of Parliament itself as established by the relevant EP committees.

Eventually, and in time to be used for the preparation of the PDB resolution, the rapporteur aims at having a series of working documents that integrate budgetary framework and political priorities and give a full and consistent overview over the main policy areas. This should allow the rapporteur, together with the committee, to draw valid conclusions for the budgetary priorities for 2009 which can then be transposed into budgetary amendments for the first reading of the budget for next year.

By using this method, the rapporteur intends to cover the following policy areas:

01 - Economic and financial affairs

02 - Enterprise

04 - Employment and social affairs

05 - Agriculture and rural development

06 - Energy and transport

07 - Environment

08 - Research + 10 - Direct research

09 - Information society and media

11 - Fisheries and maritime affairs

12 - Internal market + 14 - Taxation and customs union

13 - Regional policy

15 - Education and culture

16 - Communication

17 - Health and consumer protection

18 - Area of freedom, security and justice

19 - External relations

21 - Development and relations with ACP states

22 - Enlargement

23 - Humanitarian aid

Some first examples of basic fact sheets, ready to be developed further, are attached to the current working document. The main bulk of documents will be presented shortly.

For drawing her conclusions, the rapporteur, at a later stage of the "work in progress", might consider it useful to combine certain policy areas: For example to allow for an integrated approach on Heading 4 of the MFF, the relevant policy areas might be treated together.

HORIZONTAL WORKING DOCUMENTS

In addition to this policy area oriented approach which your rapporteur considers the most useful with a view to directly resulting in consistent budgetary amendments, your rapporteur will also take into account horizontal aspects of the annual budgetary procedure.

For this purpose, it is intended to create a small number of working documents on key areas of the budget which, due to their horizontal nature, might not get their due share of attention if a pure policy area approach might be followed. EU agencies or administrative expenditure are such horizontal key areas, to name but a few, to which separate attention will have to be paid.

WORKING DOCUMENT NR 2 ON PILOT PROJECTS AND PREPARATORY ACTIONS FOR THE BUDGETARY PROCEDURE 2009

1.       Introduction

1.      Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions (PP / PA) are important tools for Parliament to formulate its political priorities and to introduce new initiatives that might lead to proposals for, and subsequent adoption of, legal acts setting out new EU activities and programmes.

PP / PA in the Financial Regulation

2.     The general base for PP / PA is Article 49 of the Financial Regulation[1] which describes the exceptions to the general budgetary principle that only then can appropriations be entered in the EU budget if a basic legal act has been adopted previously. Thus, for PP and PA, a budgetary decision comes first and may only in a second step lead to a corresponding legislative decision. Article 49, point 6, FR states that by way of derogation ... the following [PP / AP] may be implemented without a basic act provided the actions which they are intended to finance fall within the powers of the Communities or the European Union.

3.     According to the Financial Regulation, pilot projects are schemes of an experimental nature designed to test the feasibility of an action and its usefulness. The relevant commitment appropriations may be entered in the budget for not more than two successive financial years.

4.     Preparatory actions are defined as actions designed to prepare proposals with a view to the adoption of future actions. The preparatory actions are to follow a coherent approach and may take various forms. The relevant commitment appropriations may be entered in the budget for not more than three successive financial years. The legislative procedure must be concluded before the end of the third financial year.

PP / PA in the Interinstitutional Agreement

5.     Apart from the Financial Regulation, the second important text in connection with PP / AP is the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 which further defines the framework and some quasi-"implementing rules".

6.     Letter D of Annex II of the IIA stipulates that in order for the Commission to be able to assess in due time the implementability of amendments envisaged by the budgetary authority which create new preparatory actions/pilot projects or prolong existing ones, both arms of the budgetary authority will inform the Commission by mid-June of their intentions in this regards, so that a first discussion may already take place at the conciliation meeting of the Council's first reading.

7.     The IIA also includes some clear budgetary ceilings for PP / PA: Furthermore, the institutions agree to limit the total amount of appropriations for pilot schemes to EUR 40 million in any budget year. They also agree to limit to EUR 50 million the total amount of appropriations for new preparatory actions in any budgetary year, and to EUR 100 million the total amount of appropriations actually committed for preparatory actions.

2.       PP and AP adopted in the 2008 Budget

Some facts and figures

8.     The 2008 budget includes 24 PP and 27 PA, all in all a total of 51 budget lines (see table in Annex). The smallest amount allocated was a sum of EUR 0,15m (CE) for a PP in Heading 2 (Sustainable agriculture and soil conservation), the largest individual amount was EUR 6,5m (CE) for a PA in Heading 2 (Maritime policy).

9.     The total amount adopted for Pilot Projects in 2008 was EUR 38,15m in CE (33,4m in CP). Out of this, Heading 1a accounted for EUR 8,5m, Heading 2 for 11,15m, Heading 3a for 2m, Heading 3b for 6,5m and Heading 4 for 10m (all CE).

10.   Preparatory Actions were adopted for a total amount of EUR 69,17m in CE (65,7m in CP). The biggest share of this amount went to Heading 1a with a sub-total of EUR 29,5m, followed by Heading 4 with allocations of 21,67m. Heading 2 accounted for EUR 14m, Heading 3b for 3m and Heading 3a for 1m (all CE).

Implementation

11.   The Commission has now presented its First Interim Report on the implementation of Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions 2008 which provides information on each project / action. A second, more detailed, report will be transmitted with the PDB 2009 also including information on PP / PA which are in the completion stage, i.e. for which there are no new commitments in 2008, but which still have payments appropriations.

12.   According to the first interim report, the Commission is still discussing the best way to implement six[2] out of the 51 PP / PA that were adopted while the implementation of the other 45 projects / actions has already been initiated.

13.   The general rapporteur for the Budget 2008 will present a working document to the committee to decide whether these obvious implementation difficulties can be justified or not.

14.    On the other hand, the budget rapporteur for 2009 will draw some conclusions from the experience COBU has made with the PP / AP adopted over the last few years in order to make the most out of this tool so important to the European Parliament.

3.      Conclusions for 2009

Resources

15.   It is worthwhile to reiterate that, ultimately, it is the overall ceilings of the MFF 2007 - 2013 that constitute the framework within which all PP / PA have to fit. This means that in times of scarce resources, at some stage, Parliament might not be able to adopt PP / PA up to the maximum level of financing permitted by the IIA (EUR 40m for PP, EUR 100m for PA, per annum) simply because there will not be an equivalent margin left under the relevant MFF heading.

16.   Your general rapporteur for the Budget 2009 would like to illustrate this in a small example: According to the Commission's APS document, for 2009 the margin in Heading 3b will be "around EUR 20m". In 2008, Parliament has adopted PP / PA of a value of some EUR 10m, the vast majority of them new. Since PP / PA are not included in the Commission's financial programming[3] the estimated margin of EUR 20m for Heading 3b for 2009 does also not take into account any resources allocated to PP / PA. If Parliament wanted to continue all projects / actions that are currently in the Budget 2008, the margin would consequently shrink to EUR 10m. If Parliament, in a second step, wanted to introduce as many new PP / PA in the Budget 2009 as it adopted for the Budget 2008, i.e. some EUR 10m, the ceiling of Heading 3b would be reached and there would be absolutely no room for manoeuvre left to increase the Commission's PDB on any other line of that Heading.

17.   All EU activities newly introduced into the budget will decrease the available margins under the MFF and are thus bound to painfully limit Parliament's access to the PP / PA tool. It is before this background that Commission initiatives like the creation of new Community agencies have to be carefully scrutinised.

18.   Following the presentation of the PDB on 6 May, your 2009 Budget rapporteur will therefore have to evaluate whether the margins left under the different headings will allow Parliament's priorities to be sufficiently financed at all.

Timing

19.   Your general rapporteur for the Budget 2009 intends to make every effort to be in a position to inform the Commission on Parliament's intentions regarding Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions before the summer recess, in line with the obligation stipulated in the IIA. This objective has been confirmed in Article 9 of the motion for a resolution on the Budgetary Framework and Priorities for 2009 adopted by COBU in its meeting of 27 March.

20.   In the first multi-lateral meeting your rapporteur had mid-March with the other budget rapporteurs she already communicated this intention to the EP committees. Three more rounds of multi-lateral talks are to follow in May, July and September 2008 with the May-meeting dedicated to a first exchange of views on the committees' assessment of on-going PP / PA and on their first ideas for any new projects / actions.

21.   For your rapporteur this effort to establish a short list of PP / PA before the summer break is not solely a formal exercise in adhering to the letters of the IIA but stems from her firm belief that a coherent and balanced list of projects / actions that has been thoroughly negotiated and reflected upon will maximise the impact and the long-term results of Parliament's initiatives.

Implementability

22.   First of all, it would allow sufficient time for the Commission to give some quality feedback on Parliament's projects. As is stressed in the Letter of Executability concerning Parliament's First Reading of the Draft Budget 2008, knowing that these actions provide the EP with the valuable opportunity to test new concepts and priorities and promote new ideas for programmes, the Commission strives to implement them each year. The Commission would welcome further contacts with the Parliament to discuss the intentions behind its proposals, and to clarify its wishes. ... There are a number of initiatives which the Commission welcomes in their entirety, but there are others ... which may require some adjustment in order to facilitate good execution, or which could be covered by existing or new legal bases.

23.   Your rapporteurs stress that it remains the prerogative of Parliament to adopt, within the limits of the IIA, any PP / PA it considers an added-value for the European citizens, and that, despite possible reservations, the Commission is obliged to do everything in its power to successfully implement the projects / actions adopted by the budgetary authority. However, a clear picture of the desired nature of the PP / PA followed by a profound discussion between the institutions on possible obstacles for the execution and how they could be overcome would certainly be in the interest of all actors.

Scope

24.   Given the limited resources and the ceilings fixed in IIA and MFF, your rapporteurs would like to draw the attention to the fact that the availability of funds for new PP and PA will be affected by the extent to which existing PP and PA receive continuing funding. It is therefore of the utmost importance, at an early stage in the preparations for the budgetary procedure, to become aware of any projects / actions that might not deserve continuation in the next budgetary year.

25.   At the moment, the Commission has indicated that the following PP / PA could be terminated in 2008:

1) For reasons of being incorporated into a legal base:

07 03 10 - Natura 2000 (legal base: LIFE +)

19 09 02 - Cooperation with middle income countries in Latin America

19 10 01 05 - Cooperation with middle income countries in Asia

2) For reasons of non-executability:

15 04 48 - Preservation of the historical finds of regional museums through the digitalisation

of their archives

15 04 49 - Fostering Baltic Sea Regionalisation

18 06 07 01 - Impact assessment of legislative measures in contract law

3) For other reasons:

01 04 11 - Promoting a more favourable environment for micro-credit in Europe[4]

Your rapporteurs are of the opinion that, already now, as early as possible, COBU should decide whether it can follow the Commission's line of argumentation and can agree to discontinue the above PP / PA.

Final remark

26.   In general, for your rapporteurs, the success of Parliament in its list of Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions should not be measured in the number of PP / PA that become adopted in plenary. Your rapporteurs would rather advise to concentrate on the quality and executability of the PP / PA proposed which might be increased if the resources available for each project / action surpass a critical amount. A somewhat smaller and more focussed list of PP / PA with substantial financing for each one of them might be easier for the Commission to implement and easier for Parliament to monitor. The creation of Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions should not be an aim in itself but rather a means to enable Parliament to influence the creation of new programmes and activities proper.

27.   You rapporteurs hope that the Committee on Budgets, in close cooperation with the other EP committees, will be able to arrive at a list of Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions for the budgetary procedure 2009 that will be

Ø balanced

Ø concise

Ø focussed

Ø and create true added-value for the European citizens in the form of sound future legislative initiatives.

Annex

Pilot Projects in Budget 2008

Budget line

COM DG

Heading

Budget 2008

(EUR million)

CA

PA

Heading 1a

 

 

 

02 02 03 04

ENTR

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

3

2

02 02 12

ENTR

Facilitating access to insurance by self-employed builders and small building firms so as to stimulate innovation and the promotion of eco-technologies in the European Union.

1,5

1

04 04 10

EMPL

Accompanying workers during industrial change

1

0,5

04 04 11

SANCO

New employment situation in the health sector: Best practices for improving professional training and qualifications of health care workers and their remuneration

1

1

15 02 30

EAC

European Neighbourhood Policy: Enhance education through scholarships and exchanges

2

2

 Total Heading 1a

8,5

6,5

 

Heading 2

 

 

 

05 01 04 08

AGRI

Sustainable agriculture and soil conservation through simplified cultivation techniques

0,15

0,15

07 03 12

TREN

European framework programme for the development and exchange of experience on sustainable urban development

1,5

1,5

07 04 04

ENV

Cooperation between Member States on combating forest fires

3,5

2

11 09 02

FISH

Networking and best practices in Maritime Policy

4

4

17 01 04 06

SANCO

Improved methods for animal friendly animal production and transportation

1

1

17 03 13

ENVI

Sulphur dioxide emission trading in the Baltic Sea

1

1

 Total Heading 2

11,15

9,65

 

Heading 3a

 

 

 

18 04 09

JLS

European-level introduction of a rapid alert mechanism for child abductions or disappearances

1

1

18 06 08

To be confirmed

Impact assessment of legislative measures in contract law

1

0,75

 Total Heading 3a

2,0

1,75

 

Heading 3b

 

 

 

15 04 45

EAC

Artist Mobility

1,5

1,5

15 04 48

To be confirmed

Preservation of the historical finds of regional museums through the digitisation of their archives

0,5

0,5

15 06 08

ADMIN

Erasmus public administration programme

1

1

16 03 05

COMM

Euroglobe

1

1

16 03 06

COMM

Pilot information networks (PINs)

1,5

1,5

17 02 03

SANCO

Monitoring measures in the field of consumer policy

1

1

 

 Total Heading 3b

6,5

6,5

 

Heading 4

 

 

 

07 02 03

ENVI

Environmental monitoring of the Black Sea Basin and a Common European Framework Programme for the Development of the Black Sea Region

1

1

19 08 01 04

AIDCO/RELEX

Preventative and recovery actions for the Baltic sea bed

2,5

2,5

21 04 06

AIDCO/DEV

Water management in developing countries

3

3

21 05 01 05

AIDCO/DEV

Qualitative and quantitative monitoring of health and education expenditure

0,5

0,5

22 02 08

ELARG

Preserving and restoring cultural heritage in conflict areas

3

2

 

 Total Heading 4

10,0

9,0

 

TOTAL Pilot projects  

 

38,15

33,4

Preparatory Actions in Budget 2008

Budget line

COM DG

Heading

Budget 2008

(EUR million)

CA

PA

Heading 1a

 

 

 

01 04 11

To be confirmed

Promoting a more favourable environment for micro-credit in Europe

1,5

2

02 02 08

ENTR

European Destinations of Excellence

2,5

2,5

02 02 11

ENTR

GMES

3

3

04 04 01 07

JLS

Standardisation of national legislation on gender violence and violence against children

1,5

1

05 01 04 091

REGIO

CURE (Convention for Urban and Rural Europe)

1,5

1,5

06 01 04 11

TREN

European Islands for a common energy policy

3

3

06 04 09

TREN

Investment fund for renewable energy and bio-refineries

3

3

06 07 05

TREN

Facilitation of cross border traffic on the EU North-East external border-crossing points (from the traffic safety and security aspects)

3,5

3

07 04 05

ENVI

EU rapid response capability

4

4

09 03 03

INFSO

Creation of an internet-based system for better legislation and for public participation

5

4,85

15 02 23

EAC

Erasmus-style programme for apprentices

1

1,08

 Total Heading 1a

29,5

28,93

 

Heading 2

 

 

 

07 03 10

ENVI

Natura 2000

1

1,6

07 03 13

ENVI

An integrated coastal communication and risk management system

1

1

11 09 01

FISH

Maritime Policy

6,5

6,5

15 04 49

To be confirmed

Fostering Baltic Sea Regionalisation

1,5

1,5

17 04 03 03

SANCO

Control posts (resting points) in relation to the transport of animals

4

4

 Total Heading 2

14

14,6

 

Heading 3a

 

 

 

18 03 12

JLS

Migration management - Solidarity in Action

p.m.

1

18 04 08

JLS

European Cooperation between national and international authorities with responsibility for children's rights and civil society promoting and defending children's rights

1

1

 Total Heading 3a

1

2

 

Heading 3b

 

 

 

15 06 10

EAC

AMICUS – Association of Member State implementing a Community Universal Service

3

2,5

 Total Heading 3b

3

2,5

 

Heading 4

 

 

 

09 06 01 02

INFSO

Implementation of the MEDIA 2007 programmes in third countries

2

2

19 08 01 05

AIDCO/ RELEX

Minorities in Russia – Developing culture, media and civil society

2,5

2,5

19 09 02

AIDCO/ RELEX

Cooperation with middle income countries in Latin America

1,5

1,5

19 10 01 03

AIDCO/ RELEX

Business and scientific exchanges with India

5

3

19 10 01 04

AIDCO/ RELEX

Business and scientific exchanges with China

5

3

19 10 01 05

AIDCO/ RELEX

Cooperation with middle income countries in Asia

2

2

21 05 01 06

AIDCO

Pharmaceutical-related transfer of technology in favour of developing countries

1,67

1,67

21 05 01 07

AIDCO

Research and development on poverty-related, tropical and neglected diseases

2

2

 Total Heading 4

21,67

17,67

 

 

 

 

TOTAL Preparatory Actions  

 

69,17

65,7
  • [1]  Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 as amended by Council Regulation No 1995/2006 of 13 December 2006.
  • [2]  Line 18 06 07 01 - Impact assessment of legislative measures in contract law (PP)
    Line 15 04 48 - Preservation of the historical finds of regional museums through the digitalisation of their archives (PP)
    Line 01 04 11 - Promoting a more favourable environment for micro-credit in Europe (PA)
    Line 15 04 49 - Fostering Baltic Sea Regionalisation (PA)
    Line 19 09 02 - Cooperation with middle income countries in Latin America (PA)
    Line 19 10 01 05 - Cooperation with middle income countries in Asia (PA)
  • [3]  All PP / PA adopted for the Budget of the current year are included in the PDB for the following year but only with a pm entry.
  • [4]  COM remark: DG REGIO is working with the EIB at the moment to create a facility for micro-credits in Europe

OPINION of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (11.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Véronique De Keyser

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.   Reiterates that, in order to enable the European Union to meet its external action obligations and to play an active role in facing global challenges, sufficient funds need to be allocated in the EU budget;

2.   Is disappointed by the share of appropriations envisaged for Heading 4 under the Council´s Draft Budget (DB) 2009 and by the fact that, while the EU´s international obligations are increasing, the growth in commitment appropriations with regard to the 2008 budget is below the rate of inflation for the same period; insists that all the budget lines of Heading 4 falling within the remit of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs be increased by at least +2% compared to the 2008 budget (deflator);

3.   Calls on the Commission not to use the Flexibility Instrument or the Emergency Aid Reserve for programmable long-term activities;

4.   Is aware of the limits of the financial framework 2007-2013; insists that the current amounts under Heading 4 do not allow for the provision of assistance to conflict-affected areas without endangering the implementation of long-term commitments; requests the allocation of additional sources to activities financed under Heading 4 above the ceiling provided for in the financial framework 2007-2013; urges the Commission and the Council to take the increasing role of the EU as a global player duly into account when preparing the review of the EU financial framework;

5.   Takes note of the pledge made by the Commission at the Donors' Conference for Kosovo to donate a total of EUR 508 million to support Kosovo's institution-building and socio-economic development, consisting of EUR 358 million under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance and EUR 150 million in macro-financial assistance over the next three years; is waiting for the amending letter of the Commission on this issue to be presented this autumn;

6.   Expresses its dissatisfaction with the appropriations envisaged in the DB 2009 for Palestine; is of the view that, when programming the assistance needed, the Commission can build in this case on experience gathered and needs estimated, and should therefore be able to allocate the funding needed to contribute to the viability of the Palestinian authorities and to the Middle East peace process; therefore insists that the amount envisaged for 2009 be, as a minimum, the same as that spent in 2007;

7.   Supports the humanitarian aid allocated by the Commission immediately after the outbreak of the Georgia crisis, which is needed in order to alleviate the suffering of conflict-affected people in Georgia and of refugees who have fled to the Russian Federation; notes the intention of the IMF and Georgia to agree on a loan in the form of a USD 750 million stand-by arrangement as well as the US pledge of USD 570 million as emergency budget support in 2008 and possibly a further USD 430 million in the next year; urges the Council and the Commission to examine the possibility of a major EU plan, with additional means under Heading 4, to provide financial support for the rebuilding of the affected areas of Georgia, to mitigate the negative impacts of the conflict on its economy and to ensure a stronger EU presence in the country as well as in the whole region; insists that international donors must be strongly involved in carrying out this plan, and welcomes the Council's decision to convene an international donors' conference;

8.   Reaffirms its support for the implementation of a deepened and differentiated European Neighbourhood Policy; underlines the need to provide the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) with an adequate financial envelope reflecting the EU´s commitment vis-à-vis its east European and southern neighbours; notes the modest increase in appropriations envisaged for 2009, and stresses that the recent initiative entitled “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean” must neither hinder the efforts to establish a balance between the commitment appropriations for the eastern and southern European neighbours nor in any case increase the budgetary tensions within the ENPI;

9.   Having regard to the growing political importance of election observation and the fact that it is not possible to forecast the annual cost thereof, in particular because of the increase in security-related costs, calls for greater flexibility under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) so that annual funding requirements can be met;

10. Recognises that the risks associated with the implementation of the policy options chosen under the EIDHR, namely as regards giving support to civil society organisations and/or human rights defenders in countries and regions where fundamental freedoms are most at risk, are greater than those normally identified in relation to other policy options; points out that this is linked to the innovative and political requirements to which implementation gives rise, including the provision of support to organisations that do not have legal personality and grants made through umbrella organisations, in line with the provisions of the Financial Regulation;

11. Insists that at least 20% of the amount envisaged for Iraq in 2009 must be managed by the Commission directly through its Delegation on the ground; moreover, asks the Commission to focus on projects presented by civil society;

12. Emphasises the political importance of pilot projects and preparatory actions adopted by the budgetary authority under Heading 4; calls for the timely and proactive implementation thereof by the Commission, making full use of allocated commitments;

13. Appreciates the continuation of the dialogue with the Council presidency on the priorities of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP); is committed to reinforcing that dialogue so as to ensure timely inter-institutional coordination in shaping the course of the CFSP and to enhance its effectiveness and democratic legitimacy; underlines that the quality of the information provided needs to be improved and its continuity ensured.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

10.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

54

3

3

Members present for the final vote

Vittorio Agnoletto, Robert Atkins, Christopher Beazley, Bastiaan Belder, Colm Burke, Philip Claeys, Véronique De Keyser, Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos, Michael Gahler, Jas Gawronski, Georgios Georgiou, Maciej Marian Giertych, Ana Maria Gomes, Alfred Gomolka, Klaus Hänsch, Jana Hybášková, Anna Ibrisagic, Ioannis Kasoulides, Metin Kazak, Helmut Kuhne, Vytautas Landsbergis, Johannes Lebech, Willy Meyer Pleite, Francisco José Millán Mon, Philippe Morillon, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, Cem Özdemir, Ioan Mircea Paşcu, Béatrice Patrie, Alojz Peterle, Tobias Pflüger, João de Deus Pinheiro, Samuli Pohjamo, Bernd Posselt, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Libor Rouček, Christian Rovsing, Flaviu Călin Rus, Katrin Saks, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, György Schöpflin, Marek Siwiec, István Szent-Iványi, Inese Vaidere, Geoffrey Van Orden, Marcello Vernola, Kristian Vigenin, Luis Yañez-Barnuevo García, Josef Zieleniec

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Laima Liucija Andrikienė, James Elles, Glyn Ford, Kinga Gál, Milan Horáček, Tunne Kelam, Mario Mauro, Nickolay Mladenov, Rihards Pīks, Aloyzas Sakalas, Inger Segelström, Karl von Wogau

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

Costas Botopoulos, Antonio Masip Hidalgo, Pierre Pribetich

OPINION of the Committee on Development (8.10.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the EU for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Maria Martens

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.   Welcomes the Commission proposal for a Regulation establishing a facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries[1], as a timely response to the real hardship caused by soaring food prices for the world’s poorest population and aimed at promptly increasing agricultural productivity; calls for the necessary funding to be made available, while safeguarding compliance with the rules of the budgetary procedure laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement[2] and addressing adequately the fact that some Member States fulfil their Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) commitments and others do not, provided that the funds allocated will be subject to recognised standards of control and accountability;

2.   Observes that, as a consequence of the food crisis, there will be increased demand for humanitarian and food aid and that in order for the EU to realise its commitments under The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid[3] the budget lines relating to those areas should be reinforced;

3.   Stresses the critical need for strengthening evaluation of development cooperation actions, concentrating on results (including outputs, outcomes and impacts) and ensuring findings are used to inform the identification and design of subsequent actions;

4.   Expresses its concern regarding the lack of clarity as to the way in which support measures to address adaptation costs and possible net fiscal losses incurred by the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) will be financed; calls on the Commission to provide detailed information regarding what financial assistance it will provide to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, through Aid for Trade or other support measures, to adapt to the economic changes following the signing of EPAs;

5.   Observes that the financing of preparatory actions for cooperation with middle income group countries in Asia and Latin America have served a valuable purpose in 2008 and should be continued in 2009, as they allow financing for actions beyond the definition of ODA which fall outside the scope of the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI)[4]; calls on the Commission to fill the gap in the external actions legislative architecture with a legislative proposal covering non-ODA actions in developing countries;

6.   Stresses that the Commission has a legal obligation to support efforts of partner countries to develop democratic domestic accountability capacities (parliamentary control and audit capacities) where Community assistance is delivered via budget support[5]; insists that this obligation be fulfilled more robustly and that provision be made for transmission of full information, including budget support agreements, to parliamentary control entities and supreme audit institutions.

PROCEDURE

Title

Opinion of the Committee on development for the Committee on Budgets on the draft general budget of the EU for the financial year 2009

References

2008/2026(BUD

Committee responsible

BUDG

Opinion by

       Date announced in plenary

DEVE

 

 

 

 

Drafts(wo)man

       Date appointed

Maria Martens

20.07.1999

 

 

Date adopted

07.10.2008

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

26

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Alessandro Battilocchio, Thijs Berman, Josep Borrell Fontelles, Danutė Budreikaitė, Nirj Deva, Alexandra Dobolyi, Beniamino Donnici, Fernando Fernández Martín, Juan Fraile Cantón, Alain Hutchinson, Romana Jordan Cizelj, Filip Kaczmarek, Glenys Kinnock, Maria Martens, José Javier Pomés Ruiz, Toomas Savi, Frithjof Schmidt, Jürgen Schröder, Anna Záborská

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Fiona Hall, Manolis Mavrommatis, Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez,Anne Van Lancker, Renate Weber, Gabriele Zimmer

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

Catherine Boursier
  • [1]  COM(2008)0450
  • [2]  Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1)
  • [3]  OJ C 25, 30.1.2008, p. 1.
  • [4]  Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation (OJ L 378, 27.12.2006, p. 41.)
  • [5]  Article 25(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006.

OPINION of the Committee on International Trade (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 – 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Helmuth Markov

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on International Trade calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.   Stresses that new Aid for Trade money should be additional to existing development aid and new Aid for Trade pledges should not lead to the shifting of resources already earmarked for other development initiatives; reiterates the request made to the Commission to provide information on the origin of the EUR 1,000,000,000 pledged;

2.   Expresses its concern regarding the lack of clarity on the way Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) will be financed; calls on the Commission to provide detailed information regarding what financial assistance it will provide to ACP countries to adapt to the economic changes following the signing of EPAs;

3.   Reiterates the request made to the Commission to assess progress made in implementing the measures taken in the Aid for Trade area and to submit to Parliament and Council a biannual report (starting in 2009) on implementation and results obtained and, as far as possible, on the main outcomes and effects of Aid for Trade assistance;

4.   Requests explicitly that the biannual report contain specific information on the history of the measures financed, where appropriate showing the results of monitoring and evaluation exercises, the involvement of the relevant partners, and the implementation of the pledges, budget commitments and payments, broken down by country, region and category of assistance; requests that the report also assess progress made in mainstreaming trade into aid programming and the results achieved with the assistance, using, as far as possible, specific and measurable indicators of its role in meeting the Aid for Trade objectives;

5.   Calls on the Commission to present, in advance of Parliament's second reading, an overview providing the complete figures for all Aid for Trade finance coming from the EU budget, and the complete figure for the total amount of Aid for Trade for all "trade-related assistance";

6.   Reiterates that Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) should be subject to strict monitoring and conditionality as the EU does not control the ways in which beneficiary countries spend the EU's general un-earmarked funds entering their general budget; regrets that MFA lacks a proper legal basis and continues to be based on ad hoc Council decisions for each operation; reiterates the need for a co-decided framework regulation on MFA that enhances transparency, accountability, monitoring and reporting systems;

7.   Requests the Commission to supply Parliament in due time with information concerning MFA programming and the expected timetable for the Commission's MFA-related proposals; insists that the Council invite Parliament to deliver its opinion on the Commission's MFA-related proposals by way of the "urgency procedure" only when absolutely necessary and after due justification;

8.   Reiterates that it is necessary to provide concrete financial support for pharmaceutical-related technology transfer and capacity-building for developing countries and local production of pharmaceuticals in all developing countries, especially LDCs, in discharging the obligations laid down in Article 66(2) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS);

9.   Points out that it is necessary to increase funding for research and development in the field of poverty-related, tropical and neglected diseases with the participation of public-private partnerships and other possible funding ventures, and to support research institutes willing to cooperate in public health initiatives dedicated to these efforts and pursuing research into and development of, medicines of special relevance to developing countries;

10. Calls on the Commission to submit to Parliament as soon as possible a proposal for establishing the planned European Business Centre in China; stresses that the submission of a proposal is a precondition for the decision on making available the necessary funds; calls for the duplication of structures to be avoided when the European Business Centre in China is established.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

9.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

25

1

0

Members present for the final vote

Carlos Carnero González, Daniel Caspary, Françoise Castex, Christofer Fjellner, Béla Glattfelder, Ignasi Guardans Cambó, Jacky Hénin, Alain Lipietz, Erika Mann, Helmuth Markov, David Martin, Vural Öger, Georgios Papastamkos, Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Peter Šťastný, Robert Sturdy, Gianluca Susta, Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Corien Wortmann-Kool

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Jean-Pierre Audy, Albert Deß, Elisa Ferreira, Vasco Graça Moura, Eugenijus Maldeikis, Rovana Plumb, Salvador Domingo Sanz Palacio, Zbigniew Zaleski

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

 

OPINION of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Pervenche Berès

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

This draft opinion takes as its reference point the preliminary draft budget (PDB) for the financial year 2009 published by the Commission on 6 May 2007.

General remarks

The Commission presents the 2009 PDB as providing higher spending for growth and employment and as highlighting the growing trend to gear policy spending towards the energy and environment.

On ECON issues in the PDB

Your draftsperson believes that the European Union must ensure that the budgetary resources match the ambitions embodied in the Lisbon Agenda for a sustainable growth and the challenge of fighting climate change and ensuring energy supply:

- Commitments for Competitiveness for Growth and Employment (sub-heading 1a) equal EUR 11 690 million, leaving a margin of EUR 82 million; this represents an increase of 5,5% compared to 2008, but leave a limited margin to fund new priorities by redeployment without severely undermining important existing programmes.

- For Cohesion for Growth and Employment (sub-heading 1b), there is an increase of 2,5% to a total of EUR 48 413,9 million, leaving a margin of EUR 14 million only in the technical assistance envelope. Your draftsperson draws your attention to the sharp decrease in payments and expresses her support to all efforts to make sure that the twelve new Member States can rely on sufficient sums through the structural funds to enhance their growth potential, employment creation and the quality of their infrastructures.

As regards more specifically the ECON committee policy areas, the following elements should be highlighted:

On Title 1: Economic and Financial Affairs

Your draftsperson considers as positive the increase in human resources with regards to administrative expenditure of Economic and financial affairs policy area (budget heading 01 01).

Concerning the Economic and Monetary Union (budget heading 01 02), your draftsperson considers that there is a need for more resources for analysis of comparative economic performance of the EU Member States. The 2.2% increase of budget heading 01 02 02 (Coordination of economic and monetary union) is insufficient.

Your draftsperson notes with concern that a 2.6% decrease (22% decrease in the DB) of budget heading 01 02 04 may jeopardise the adequate implementation of the PRINCE initiative (Communication on economic and monetary union, including the Euro). This is particularly worrying bearing in mind that the 10th anniversary of the euro on 1 January 2009 should provide a unique opportunity to become more proactive in the communication to the general public in the euro. Therefore the amount allocated to PRINCE is clearly insufficient.

The same concerns arise with regard to the decrease of 34,9% of budget heading 01 03 (International Economics and Financial Affairs). Such reduction of resources will not allow the EU to make a financial contribution to international accounting standard setting in the interest of the European Union.

As regards the Financial Operations and Instruments (budget heading 01 04), your draftsperson welcomes the provisioning of the Guarantee Fund under budget heading 01 04 01 14. However, your draftsperson notes with concern that the substantial reduction of budget headings 01 04 05 (Completion of programme for enterprises: improvement of the financial environment for SMEs) and 01 04 11 (Preparatory action – Promoting a more favourable environment for micro-credit n Europe) can have a detrimental effect on policies in favour of SMEs.

On Title 2: Enterprise

With regard to the administrative expenditure of Enterprise (budget heading 02 01), it is difficult to see the rationale behind the important reduction (70 posts) of human resources.

Your draftsperson considers that a decrease of 0.9% in the commitments towards Competitiveness, industrial policy, innovation and entrepreneurship (budget heading 02 02) sends the wrong signal for such a broad and important chapter, particularly as regards SMEs, and seems to be at odds with the objectives of the Small Business Act initiative.

On Title 3: Competition

Your draftsperson welcomes the increase in staff under administrative expenditure of Competition Policy Area (budget heading 03.01).

On Title 14: Taxation and customs union

Your draftsperson welcomes the increase of budget headings 14 03 (International aspects of taxation and customs) and 14 04 (Customs policy). With regards to Taxation Policy (budget heading 14 05), your draftsperson does not understand the significant decrease (-15.3%) proposed in a crucial area for the good functioning of the internal market. Your draftsperson underlines the importance of ensuring the necessary funding for the computerisation of the EU Excise System (EMCS).

On Title 24: Fight against fraud

Your draftsperson is concerned with the 15.4% decrease of the budgetary support to protect the financial interests of the European Union against fraud and corruption.

On Title 29: Statistics

Although there is an overall increase of budget heading 29 02 04 (Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics – MEETS), your draftsperson takes the view that the decrease in human resources could have a negative impact in the quality of European statistics.

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.  Considers that there is a need for more resources to be allocated to the functioning of the Eurogroup and to the analysis of the comparative economic performances of the Member States;

2.  Expresses its concern on the reduction of resources allocated to the PRINCE initiative 01, which is at odds with the results of the EMU@10 project;

3.  Welcomes the provision of the Guarantee Fund, but notes with concern that the substantial reduction of budget headings 01 04 05 and 01 04 11may have a detrimental effect on policies favouring SMEs;

4.   Notes the changes in the international economy, which create new opportunities for SMEs at the global level and calls for more SME involvement in international projects through subcontracts concerning activities within their expertise; suggests that preparatory action provide a basis for a European strategy for SME involvement in projects with third countries;

5.   Underlines the necessity for reinforced European action aiming at harmonisation of business models and data exchange standards between SMEs along the supply chain of one or more interrelated industry sectors; considers a pilot project to be appropriate for accelerating the pace of integration of digital innovation among European SMEs;

6.  Reiterates that sufficient funding must be set aside for a financial contribution to the functioning of the three Lamfalussy level 3 committees, as well as for international accounting standard setting, in particular to the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation, including the International Accounting Standards Board, and its European voice through the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group;

7.   Welcomes the agreement on the Memorandum of Understanding on Cross-Border Financial Stability; calls for sufficient funding and full commitment in regard to its implementation at EU level; in this respect, recommends conducting a study and developing a common toolbox of procedures for crisis prevention, management and resolution at EU level;

8.  Considers that the important reduction (70 posts) of human resources and the decrease (by 0,9 %) in commitments towards competitiveness, industrial policy, innovation and entrepreneurship (budget heading 02 02) send the wrong signal;

9.   Calls for appropriate funding for targeted projects that would facilitate access to finance for SMEs; suggests that a pilot project be promoted for training and coaching SMEs to obtain financing; considers that particular attention should be attributed in this project  to the exchange of experience and knowledge between SMEs across Member States;

10. Deplores the significant reduction of budgetary resources for taxation policy, which is a crucial area for the good functioning of the internal market;

11. Expresses its concern for the significant decrease (by 15,4 %) of budgetary support to protect the financial interests of the European Union against fraud and corruption;

12. Notes that an estimated EUR 40 billion are lost every year due to VAT fraud; calls for a pilot project to explore the potential of reducing carousel fraud and other shortcomings in the VAT payment cycle; considers that such a pilot project should, in particular, explore the possibility of moving the point of taxation from the invoicing to the settlement stage, using an automated intra-EU VAT-collection system;

13. Takes the view that the decrease in human resources could have a negative impact in the quality of European statistics;

14. Stresses the need for funding to support consumer and SME organisations in better representing their interests by enabling them to hire experts to advise them on the various Commission initiatives and comitology (Lamfalussy level 3 committees) consultations in the area of financial services.

PROCEDURE

Title

Draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009 - Section III - Commission

Procedure number

2008/2026(BUD)

Committee responsible

BUDGET

Committee asked for its opinion

  Date announced in plenary

ECON

 

Enhanced cooperation

no

Draftswoman

  Date appointed

Pervenche Berès

11.3.2008

Discussed in committee

30.6.2008

9.9.2008

 

 

 

Date suggestions adopted

10.9.2008

Result of final vote

for:

against:

abstentions:

42

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Mariela Velichkova Baeva, Paolo Bartolozzi, Zsolt László Becsey, Pervenche Berès, Sebastian Valentin Bodu, Sharon Bowles, Udo Bullmann, Ieke van den Burg, Elisa Ferreira, José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil, Jean-Paul Gauzès, Robert Goebbels, Gunnar Hökmark, Karsten Friedrich Hoppenstedt, Othmar Karas, Christoph Konrad, Guntars Krasts, Kurt Joachim Lauk, Andrea Losco, Astrid Lulling, Gay Mitchell, Sirpa Pietikäinen, John Purvis, Alexander Radwan, Bernhard Rapkay, Heide Rühle, Eoin Ryan, Antolín Sánchez Presedo, Manuel António dos Santos, Salvador Domingo Sanz Palacio, Olle Schmidt, Peter Skinner, Margarita Starkevičiūtė, Cornelis Visser

Substitutes present for the final vote

Harald Ettl, Ján Hudacký, Piia-Noora Kauppi, Vladimír Maňka, Gianni Pittella, Bilyana Ilieva Raeva, Margaritis Schinas, Andreas Schwab

Substitutes under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

OPINION of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (11.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Karin Jöns

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

General comments on the employment and social affairs area

1.   Points out that a binding financial framework is applicable for the 2007-2013 period to most budget headings in the employment and social affairs area, including, accordingly, the heading for the European Social Fund, which accounts for about 95% of budget funds for the area; notes that the binding financial framework does not apply to social dialogue and mobility, agencies, studies or pilot projects;

2.   Calls on the Commission, in view of the imminent review of the Financial Regulation[1] to analyse the effects of the degressivity clause;

3.   Welcomes the fact that, by way of preparation for the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010), a new budget heading has been created with an allocation of EUR 6.5 million (04 04 12);

4.   Welcomes the projected allocation of EUR 953 363 000 for the promotion of the lifelong learning programme and hopes that the funds will be allocated equitably for lifelong learning, adult retraining and teacher training, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all, so as to assist those belonging to the most vulnerable categories or residing in less-favoured areas of the Union;

Information and training measures for workers’ organisations (04 03 03 02)

5.   Points out that the annual 1% reduction in funds (the degressivity clause) is increasingly hindering the European trade union institute ETUI-REHS and the European Centre for Workers' Questions EZA in carrying out European projects because of the generally low equity ratios of their member organisations in the new Member States;

6.   Calls on the Commission to find, in 2009, as part of the revision of the Financial Regulation, a way of limiting the annual reduction in funds for ETUI-REHS and EZA;

Social dialogue and mobility (04 03)

7.   Regrets that funds for social dialogue and worker mobility have been cut by 1.5% since the previous year and underscores the fact that, in the present times of globalisation, Parliament attaches particular importance to this area;

8.   Welcomes the EUR 650 000 increase in funds for the budget heading 'Industrial relations and social dialogue' (04 03 03 01);

9.   Regrets that, although Parliament has stressed time and time again the great importance of European works councils in keeping the industrial peace in international conglomerates and firms with sites in various Member States of the Union, EUR 800 000 has been cut from the funding under the budget heading 'Information, consultation and participation of representatives of undertakings' (04 03 03 03); calls on the Commission to check whether, by reorganising organisational arrangements for calls for tender, the implementation of budget heading 04 03 03 03 might not be improved in future;

10. Regrets that funds for EURES (European Employment Services) have been cut by EUR 1 million; stresses that, in 2007, Parliament decided to increase EURES funding by precisely that amount, with a view to improving the quality of the services it provides, and insists on the reinstatement of the 2008 appropriations in the 2009 budget;

11. Calls on the Commission to examining, under budget line 04 03 05 'Free movement of workers, co-ordination of social security' the feasibility of a European Social Card for workers exercising their right of free movement, which would be comparable to the European Health Insurance Card and would facilitate access to social security rights for citizens and help reduce administrative burdens by pooling information; recommends that such a card might initially relate to the matters covered by Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems, namely sickness benefits, pensions, invalidity, accidents, unemployment and family benefits;

Agencies

12. Regrets that, contrary to the Commission's assurances, funds for three agencies whose work falls within the employment and social affairs area, namely Eurofound in Dublin, OSHA in Bilbao and Cedefop in Thessaloniki, have been considerably cut;

13. Calls, in the interests of these agencies, for at least the 2008 appropriations to be made under the relevant heading in the 2009 budget;

PROGRESS (04 04 01)

14. Calls for payment appropriations increases of EUR 1 million and EUR 800 000 respectively for social protection and inclusion and for non-discrimination and diversity, so that more projects and projects on a larger scale can be carried out in 2009;

15. Notes that cooperation and coordination between Member States' labour inspectorates on unreported paid employment are inadequate; calls on the Commission to examine, under PROGRESS (04 04 01 03: Working conditions), the possibility of establishing a body, comparable to EUROPOL, responsible for combating illegal employment;

16. Expresses concern about the social and housing problems that many municipalities in certain 'old' Member States are confronted by as a result of the (temporary) high influx of citizens of Member States that recently joined the Union, which stems from the free movement of services and workers; stresses the need to provide support to such municipalities so as to help create social support for freedom of movement, for instance in the framework of PROGRESS, and safeguard social cohesion and foster commitment to the accession of new Member States among the people of the municipalities temporarily confronted with this migration;

Pilot projects

17. Points to the European added value of pilot projects in responding to unfolding developments outside the scope of existing programmes; stresses the significance of pilot projects for framing forward-looking initiatives and for setting new political priorities;

18. Advocates continuing the pilot project 'New employment situation in the health sector' (17 03 08); points out that demographic change is resulting in greater demand for health care services, leading to a greatly changed employment situation in that sector; points out that the goal of the pilot project is to identify best practices and to fund initiatives which can help address challenges in this area more effectively;

19. Proposes a pilot project on the issue of violence against the elderly which would investigate the extent and causes of physical and psychological violence against elderly people, as well as methods and consequences of financial exploitation, and identify strategies to prevent and reduce them; points in this connection to Parliament's finding in its report on the demographic future of Europe, that about 10% of elderly people are affected by violence;

20. Proposes a pilot project on the employment and living conditions of posted workers, given the continuing lack of reliable data on these conditions; believes that investigations should focus on the farming, construction industry and health care sectors, since most posted workers are employed in those areas.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

10.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

45

2

0

Members present for the final vote

Jan Andersson, Edit Bauer, Iles Braghetto, Philip Bushill-Matthews, Alejandro Cercas, Ole Christensen, Derek Roland Clark, Jean Louis Cottigny, Jan Cremers, Proinsias De Rossa, Harald Ettl, Richard Falbr, Carlo Fatuzzo, Ilda Figueiredo, Roger Helmer, Stephen Hughes, Karin Jöns, Ona Juknevičienė, Jean Lambert, Bernard Lehideux, Elizabeth Lynne, Mary Lou McDonald, Thomas Mann, Maria Matsouka, Elisabeth Morin, Juan Andrés Naranjo Escobar, Csaba Őry, Siiri Oviir, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Rovana Plumb, Jacek Protasiewicz, Bilyana Ilieva Raeva, Elisabeth Schroedter, José Albino Silva Peneda, Jean Spautz, Gabriele Stauner, Ewa Tomaszewska, Anne Van Lancker, Gabriele Zimmer

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Petru Filip, Donata Gottardi, Rumiana Jeleva, Anne E. Jensen, Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, Sepp Kusstatscher, Claude Moraes, Roberto Musacchio, Csaba Sógor

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

 
  • [1]  Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

OPINION of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (9.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 ‑ 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Péter Olajos

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

General Background

The total Preliminary Draft Budget (PDB) for 2009 amounts to EUR 134, 4 billion in commitment appropriations. This represents 1, 04 % of Community GNI, and is an increase of 3,1 % on the 2008 budget. A margin of EUR 2, 63 billion remains available under the ceiling of the financial framework. Payment appropriations are proposed at EUR 116, 7 billion (0, 90 % of GNI). This represents a decrease of 3, 3 % on 2008 budget.

Long-term economic growth and employment remain firmly at the top of European Union spending, taking the biggest share - nearly 45 % - of the proposed 2009 budget. However, investment in environment is supposed to be on the rise and in 2009 the total funds for all environmental objectives is supposed to take more than 10% of the budget, e.g. Euro 14 billion. Efforts to raise cross-cutting green investment are planned, with an increase of 17, 3 % outside the areas of cohesion and rural development. Total funding for energy objectives including energy security, renewable energy and research is set at around Euro 2, 3 billion.

Individual budgets (PDB 2009) in the competence of this committee

Genuine environmental policy is mainly placed under heading 2 of 2009 PDB, Preservation and Management of Natural Resources. The 2009 PDB shows for Title 07 "Environment" an overall amount of operational expenditure of EUR 344,857 Mio. Taking into account the funds foreseen under Title 19 06 05 for civil protection interventions in Third countries, the overall funds to be managed under DG ENV's responsibility amount to EUR 352,857 Mio, i.e. an increase of commitment appropriations of 3,9 % in comparison to 2008.

Life +

The LIFE + programme, which came into force in June 2007, will be in 2009 in its third year of implementation. The amount of commitment appropriations proposed under the 2009 PDB fully matches the financial programming of the instrument and the financial envelope defined in article 10 of the LIFE + Regulation. It represents an increase of 9 % from the level of appropriations adopted under the 2008 budget.

Of the total appropriations (including technical assistance), over 78 % (i.e. EUR 225 Mio) will be dedicated to funding of projects with European added value through a call for proposals to be organised by the European Commission, of which at least EUR 112,5 Mio will be dedicated to Nature and Biodiversity projects.

Although the final outcome of the projects supported will depend upon the results of the call for proposals to be organised in 2009, the Commission expects that, in addition to Nature and biodiversity, all policy areas covered by the 6th EC Environmental Action Programme will benefit from projects under LIFE + : the Commission expects in particular an increase in projects relating to strategic approaches to policy development and implementation in the areas of climate change (innovative policy approaches, support for the development and application of new technologies, methods and instruments in greenhouse gas reduction, and adaptation and mitigation measures), environment and health (air quality, water, noise and urban management / development, chemicals and pesticides), and sustainable production and consumption (integrated product policy and waste management and prevention).

The other part of the operational budget line 07 03 07 (around EUR 45 Mio) aim at supporting measures at EU level for the implementation and development of Environment legislation, as well as awareness-raising measures and association of stakeholders to this process (through support to NGOs that are primarily active in protecting and enhancing the environment at European level). These resources also support studies, surveys and provision of services that allow the Commission to facilitate better regulation. In line with the 6th Environment Action Programme commitment to base EU environment policy on solid scientific evidence and best available data, the studies, impact assessments, policy evaluations and other support services purchased through LIFE+ are an essential policy support tool.

Civil Protection

One of the main new features of the Civil Protection Financial instrument is the possibility for the Community to address more effectively the issue of transport of assistance offered by Member States. On the basis of the Civil Protection Financial Instrument, appropriate services and facilities will therefore be put in place and implemented to ensure that the assistance requested and offered through the Community Mechanism in case of emergency is transported effectively and speedily to the affected country, be it within the EU (approximately EUR 4 Mio under budget line 07 04 01) or outside the EU (the EUR 8 Mio foreseen under budget line 19 06 05).

The level of commitment appropriations requested is fully in line with the multiannual financial programming agreed under heading 3B of the financial framework. It should be noted that the actual use of the part of the budget resources devoted to response to major emergencies, which are by their nature unpredictable, is dependent upon the occurrence of disasters and subsequent requests from member States for transport assistance. Should the amount of appropriations need to be adapted throughout the 2009 budget year, it can be done through transfer procedures, including the "global transfer procedure" in September 2009.

Global environmental affairs

Since 2007, external action in the area of environment is covered by external actions instruments under policy area 21 (Development), and in particular through the ENRTP (Thematic programme on environment and sustainable management of natural resources including energy, Chapter 21 04 of the PDB). The only appropriations remaining under Title 07 are those dedicated to payment of obligatory contributions to Multilateral Environmental Agreements, which decrease slightly in 2009 (-3,1% compared to 2008). The small decrease is due to the fact that a majority of contributions is paid in USD (exchange rate with EUR).

Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions

The framework for implementation of preparatory actions and pilot projects adopted under the 2008 budget is now in place, after contacts with the Parliament for those pilot projects and preparatory actions that were adopted at its initiative.

There are no indications for implementation problems of commitment appropriations in 2008. However, in view of the time needed to carry out necessary procedures (calls for proposals, calls for tender), it is likely that a significant proportion of payment appropriations will not be used and will have to be either carried forward to 2009 or give rise to needs for payment appropriations in subsequent years (2009-2010).

The 2009 PDB does not propose to prolong these pilot projects.

Health and Food Safety

The Public Health programme is placed under Heading 3, Citizenship, Freedom, Security and Justice. The main budget lines are those of the Health Programme, the two agencies (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Food Safety Authority) and the Tobacco Fund.

The new Health Programme (2008-2013) has replaced the first Public Health Programme (2003–2008) as of 1 January 2008. The total credits for the new programme amount to 321, 5 Mio EUR, which is considerably less than what was envisaged originally, when the Commission presented its proposal and Parliament adopted its first reading position. Commitment appropriations for the Public Health Programme II are supposed to increase about 4 % from EUR 45 Mio in 2008 to EUR 47 Mio in 2009. The allocation increase for the action "Protecting citizens from Health threats" between 2007 and 2008 (EUR 4, 43 Mio, i.e. 48, 5 %) and between 2008 and 2009 (EUR 1, 44 Mio, i.e. 10 6 %) reflects the necessity to increase action in this area which covers mitigating actions in domains like pandemics and bioterrorism.

The direct payments from the tobacco fund for information campaigns and public awareness raising of the harmful effects of tobacco consumption are supposed to increase from 14, 25 Mio EUR (2008) to 16 Mio EUR according to PDB 2009. On request of the European Parliament, the Commission has submitted a new proposal to prolong the financial support from the tobacco fund, although the support is supposed to come to an end in 2009. Hence, the situation is still worrying. Tobacco is the single largest cause of avoidable death in the European Union accounting for over half a million deaths each year and over a million deaths in Europe as a whole. It is estimated that 25% of all cancer deaths and 15% of all deaths in the Union could be attributed to smoking.

Food safety measures are placed under Heading 2, Preservation and Management of Natural Resources. It represents a total amount of 297 Mio EUR in 2009, an increase of 12 % compared to 265 Mio EUR in 2008. This increase corresponds mainly to the increase in budget for eradication measures. It is related to the fact that Member States that will benefit in 2008 of the emergency vaccination of Blue Tongue (130 Mio EUR in addition to the 265 Mio EUR above) and will have to implement an eradication programme on Blue Tongue as from 2009.

The agencies: EMEA, EEA, EFSA, ECHA and ECDC

The PDB 2008 includes appropriations for 25 decentralised agencies for a total amount of EUR 539,0 Mio which is an increase of 1,8 % as compared to the agencies' subsidies of EUR 530, 18 Mio in 2008.

For most agencies, 2009 annual EC subsidies as proposed by the Commission will be lower than for 2008. The Commission proposes to increase the subsidies of only 8 agencies as compared to 2008, including EEA, EFSA, ECHA and ECDC, which would more than offset the reductions foreseen and makes the overall 1, 8 % increase. The proposed budgets of EEA, ECDC and EFSA will increase by some 10 % or more in 2009. It has to be pointed out, however, that EUR 8.2 Mio for ECDC are supposed to be put in reserve consuming the foreseen increase of subsidies compared to budget 2008;

The growth of the agencies is also reflected in their staff numbers. In 1995 less than five hundred people worked in agencies whereas the PDB 2008 foresees 3973, 5 and 2009 PDB requests 4255,5 posts for the agencies in total.

An increase of 9,1 % (representing 2,2 M€ in addition to the 2 % annual deflator) is proposed for the European Environment Agency (EEA), in order to support new and additional tasks to be carried out by the EEA on a multi annual basis. The priorities for these new tasks have been identified in cooperation between the EEA and the Commission.

In autumn 2007 the EEA placed a contract for a comprehensive evaluation of its multi-annual strategy 2004-2008. The evaluation is progressing according to the plan approved by the management board using surveys, interviews and desk research as the principal research methods. The results of this evaluation will be presented to the management board at its June meeting 2008 and contribute to the development of the next EEA five-year strategy 2009-2013.

2009 is a crucial year for the EEA since it will the first year of the new multi-annual strategy for the period 2009-2013, required under the EEA Regulation. It will also be the key year for the preparation of the next five year state of the environment and outlook report also required under the EEA Regulation (and due to be published in 2010). The EEA is currently preparing its Strategy (Multi-annual work programme) for the next five-year period 2009-2013 which will give priority to work on the “emerging global challenges of adaptation to climate change, disaster prevention and management, ecosystem assessment and resource accounting, and sustainable consumption and production”, the four areas prioritised by DG Environment for additional work by EEA in 2009. In addition, the EEA will reinforce its capacities and support for the development of the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS), the subject of a Commission Communication in 2008.

For the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) the PDB 2009 anticipates a European contribution of EUR 36, 99 Mio which represents a reduction of EUR 1, 01 Mio compared to the budget 2008 (- 2, 66 %). Since recently adopted legislation on paediatrics and advanced therapies has to be implemented, such a cut seems to be inappropriate. In the draft programme for 2009 the agency points out its core responsibilities to achieve its objectives, i.e. the scientific advice, authorisation and supervision of medicinal products.

In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for

Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) as well as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will not be at full cruising speed. Therefore, 2009 PDB foresees a considerable increase of subsidies for EFSA (11, 34 % - EUR 70, 7 Mio) and ECDC (23, 02 % - EUR 48, 1 Mio, before the reserve).

However, the proposed reserve of 8.2 Mio EUR and a cut in staffing growth by 40 posts, as put forward by the Commission, seems to be unjustified in comparison to other agencies and would have a serious negative impact on the overall development of ECDC and particularly on the level of activity anticipated for next year. The non availability of the resources from the outset of the year would impact on the implementation of the work plan and restrict the capacity of the services which may put the Centre’s ability to fulfil its mandate at risk.

For the ECHA the PDB 2009 anticipates a European contribution of EURO 62, 97 million which represents an increase of 0, 56 % compared to the budget 2008. 12 months after its creation, ECHA has evolved from a few staff to a fully functioning organisation of 200 employees. By 2010, the Agency is expected to have its full capacity of 450 staff members. From June 1 to December 1 2008, ECHA will face its first operational challenges. It will handle the pre-registration of substances and intermediates. About 200,000 pre-registration files are expected. The next big challenge is 2010. ECHA will have the first registration deadline for the high volume substances and the very hazardous ones. By that date, all the companies need to present all the inventory documentation for the classification and labelling of any dangerous substances.

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.  Underlines the role of EU environmental, health and food safety policy in attaining the global objective of sustainable development under the renewed Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs; stresses the importance of maintaining and further ensuring a high level of protection in these policy areas in view of current and future political challenges; calls for sufficient resources to be made available for further development, implementation and enforcement of EU environmental, health and food safety policy, particularly in the fields related to climate change;

2.  Stresses the role of the European Union as a world partner and its leading role in many international environmental agreements, such as the global conventions on climate change, biodiversity, chemicals and waste; calls for more resources for international environmental activities so that the EU can maintain its lead in international environment policy and in setting the agenda for international cooperation;

3.  Emphasises that the challenges relating to sustainable energy and the fight against climate change must be reflected in the EU budget priorities; notes that these priorities will require additional budgetary resources, particularly for the climate change package of proposals submitted by the Commission, on effort sharing, emissions trading, carbon capture and storage as well as on renewable energies;

4.  Notes the importance of pilot projects and preparatory actions in determining the need for and efficacy of new budget programmes to respond to developing needs and requirements in environment and health policy; and, as with all budgetary expenditure, insists that the projects being piloted present genuine added value at the EU level and urges the Commission to pay special attention to all programmes with an impact on climate change; urges the Commission to "follow through" on the pilot projects and preparatory actions related to environmental, health and food safety policy. These pilot projects should be continued and new ones dealing with climate change should be supported;

5.  Points out the importance of the LIFE+ Programme as the coherent financial instrument for a streamlined and simplified approach to support environmental policy development and implementation; notes that the final distribution between environment policy areas of the projects co-financed will depend on the results of the call for proposals to be organised in 2009; expects that the majority of appropriations will be dedicated to nature and biodiversity projects but that other areas covered by the 6th EC Environmental Action Programme will also benefit from LIFE+ co-funding; calls on the Commission to fulfil all obligations on timely commitments and payments;

6.  Welcomes the successful completion of the Public Health Programme 2003 - 2007 and the promising start of the Public Health Programme 2008 - 2013 with increasing commitment and payment rates; calls on the Commission to ensure a cost-effective implementation of the available appropriations;

7.  Welcomes the Commission's proposal, in the interests of public health and particularly the health of children and young people, to establish an EU school fruit programme in order to improve the dietary habits and thus the health of young EU citizens, as already described in the White Paper of 30 May 2007 on 'A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues' (COM(2007)0279); calls in this connection for the programme only to promote measures with the aim of distributing fresh products, while excluding ready-made fruit products or fruit preparations from this package of measures so that the change in dietary habits from ready-made to fresh products can achieve its full impact;

8.  Calls on the Commission to undertake a pilot project to implement the Health In All Policies strategy in the context of the Structural Funds. The project should cover proposals for methods on how health issues could - in accordance with the Health In All Policies strategy - be incorporated in regional development projects. The pilot project would aim at enhancing overall health in the European Union by means of capacity building in the context of regional development agencies;

9.  Stresses the need to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, including passive smoking; welcomes the fact that the Commission has submitted a proposal to continue financing the Community Tobacco Fund to pay for awareness-raising on dangers of tobacco; points out, however, that this financial support will come to an end in 2009; invites the Commission to find new sources of financing; takes note of the public consultation on the Green Paper "Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke" and the report on the implementation of the Tobacco Advertising Directive showing difficulties in coherent implementation at Member State level;

10. Takes note of the planned increase of subsidies granted from the 2009 budget to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA);

11. Regrets, however, that the Commission proposes to cut the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) budget by 2, 66 % compared to the 2008 budget and that EUR 8 200 000 for the ECDC should be put in reserve, thereby consuming the foreseen increase of subsidies compared to the 2008 budget;

12. Stresses once more the need for the agencies to have proper financing in order to carry out their tasks but without reducing the funds available for other Community activities; calls for careful scrutiny of the tasks of the agencies and the activities carried out by the Commission in order to avoid overlapping and to ensure that the necessary tasks are carried out in the most cost-efficient and rational way;

13. Emphasises the need for a general policy approach to undertake a horizontal evaluation of European agencies as soon as possible in order to develop a common basis for evaluation of performance and appropriate treatment of agencies; welcomes the submission of the Commission Communication "European Agencies - The Way Forward" as a first step towards a horizontal evaluation of regulatory agencies by the end of 2009;

14. Points out that newly adopted and forthcoming legislation, such as the legislative package on pesticides, advanced therapy medicinal products, novel food and food information to consumers, as well as the development of science and technologies, such as nanotechnology, will increase the workload and tasks of the relevant agencies; stresses that the agencies must be provided with adequate financial means to enable them to cope with new tasks in administrative and operational terms.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

9.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

50

1

0

Members present for the final vote

Adamos Adamou, Georgs Andrejevs, Margrete Auken, Liam Aylward, Pilar Ayuso, Johannes Blokland, John Bowis, Frieda Brepoels, Martin Callanan, Dorette Corbey, Magor Imre Csibi, Chris Davies, Avril Doyle, Mojca Drčar Murko, Anne Ferreira, Karl-Heinz Florenz, Elisabetta Gardini, Françoise Grossetête, Satu Hassi, Gyula Hegyi, Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Dan Jørgensen, Christa Klaß, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Holger Krahmer, Peter Liese, Roberto Musacchio, Riitta Myller, Péter Olajos, Miroslav Ouzký, Vladko Todorov Panayotov, Vittorio Prodi, Frédérique Ries, Guido Sacconi, Amalia Sartori, Carl Schlyter, Richard Seeber, María Sornosa Martínez, Antonios Trakatellis, Evangelia Tzampazi, Thomas Ulmer, Anja Weisgerber, Glenis Willmott

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Iles Braghetto, Philip Bushill-Matthews, Bairbre de Brún, Milan Gaľa, Caroline Lucas, Alojz Peterle, Donato Tommaso Veraldi

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

Graham Watson

OPINION of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Gabriela Creţu

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.  Notes that the responsibility of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection in the budget procedure covers titles 12 (Internal market), 14 (Taxation and customs union) and 17 (Health and consumer protection);

2.  Appreciates the moderate increases in chapters 12 01 and 12 02 of the Preliminary Draft Budget (PDB), which it deems necessary due to the benefits of the single market for the EU economy as a whole; urges the Commission to develop an administrative culture aiming at clear regulation for business and consumers with effective problem-solving tools; encourages the Commission to strengthen its cooperation with the Member States in order to ensure a proper application of Community law and to identify weaknesses in its current policy; underlines therefore the importance of an exchange of best practices regarding the transposition and implementation process;

3.  Takes the view that the results of SOLVIT could in general be improved through better support of the network in the Member States; believes, however, that it constitutes an effective out-of-court dispute settlement mechanism; asks the Commission to strengthen its efforts to finance training and promotion activities of the network in all Member States and not only in a select few; calls, therefore, for a separate budget line to be financed by an amount of EUR 600 000;

4.  Considers the allocated amount in chapter 14, and in particular the moderate increase in chapter 14 04 for the 2013 Customs Programme, to be appropriate to achieve goals in this policy area; points out the importance of that Programme for meeting the challenges of the enlarged European Union, in particular after the accession of Romania and Bulgaria; appreciates the goal of sharing experience and knowledge with and between customs administrations and deems the security and safety of citizens to be strengthened thereby;

5.  Regards the amount foreseen in chapter 17 02 to be appropriate to achieve the goals of consumer policy; agrees with the Commission on the priorities for budget line 17 02 02; considers general measures in the area of consumer literacy, including in the digital environment and covering also modules for insertion in school curricula and the idea of a Masters degree, a priority; would like financial education to be strengthened, given the increasing problem of over-indebtedness of consumers; emphasises the importance of actions for joint market surveillance and enforcement such as RAPEX; asks the Commission to promote an EU-wide campaign through a credit card-sized leaflet outlining consumer rights;

6.  Supports the Commission in its intention to establish a database containing information on consumer trends and the functioning of markets, including price comparison, in particular with a view to feeding into the consumer market scoreboard and market studies; calls, therefore, for the continuation of the pilot project 'Monitoring measures in the field of consumer policy' to be financed by an amount of EUR 2 million.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

10.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

37

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Godfrey Bloom, Cristian Silviu Buşoi, Charlotte Cederschiöld, Gabriela Creţu, Mia De Vits, Janelly Fourtou, Evelyne Gebhardt, Martí Grau i Segú, Małgorzata Handzlik, Malcolm Harbour, Christopher Heaton-Harris, Iliana Malinova Iotova, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Kurt Lechner, Lasse Lehtinen, Arlene McCarthy, Catiuscia Marini, Nickolay Mladenov, Catherine Neris, Bill Newton Dunn, Zita Pleštinská, Zuzana Roithová, Heide Rühle, Leopold Józef Rutowicz, Christel Schaldemose, Andreas Schwab, Eva-Britt Svensson, Marianne Thyssen, Jacques Toubon, Bernadette Vergnaud, Barbara Weiler, Marian Zlotea

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Emmanouil Angelakas, Colm Burke, Giovanna Corda, András Gyürk, Joel Hasse Ferreira, Filip Kaczmarek, Manuel Medina Ortega

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

Eugenijus Gentvilas, Bilyana Ilieva Raeva

OPINION of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 ‑ 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Eva Lichtenberger

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

Introduction

This budget year is the third year in the Financial Framework period 2007-2013. The overall structure of the Budget, including for its transport lines, continues to be determined by the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management. Overall expenditure on transport sees increased resources in the Preliminary Draft Budget for 2009.

For the agencies, the 2009 budgets are constrained by the revised financial programming as a result of the financial agreement on Galileo. For this reason the Commission has had recourse to the use of "assigned revenues", agencies' surpluses in 2007 and 2008 to fulfil (most of) the agencies' budget requests. Assigned revenues are not included in the sums shown in the Preliminary Draft Budget proper but are available for agencies' use. This raises issues about transparency and parliamentary control (ultimately perhaps in the context of discharge) and, if programmed, their use creates uncertainty for the agencies as this should be a "one-off" device. Your draftsperson is of the view that it is the overall envelope which needs to be adjusted to take account of the agencies tasks and real needs, rather than resorting to the use of "assigned revenues" device.

European Maritime Safety Agency

The amounts proposed in the 2009 preliminary draft budget for the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) represent a decrease in commitment appropriations and an increase in payment appropriations from the Community budget. In the 2008 budget, EUR 44.3 million was available in commitment appropriations and EUR 46.9 in payment appropriations. In the 2009 PDB the equivalent figures are EUR 43.4 million and € 48.3 million; a decrease of 2.2% and an increase of 3.0 % respectively. In a sense, however, the figure for commitment appropriations is misleading. For the first time the Commission has agreed that EMSA can add to the budget funds for 2009 from assigned revenues from 2007, which were in surplus. Use of this device brings the total of Community funding in commitment appropriations to EUR 48.35 million. This matches EMSA's budget request.

Within these overall figures payment appropriations for anti pollution measures will rise by 9.1% to EUR 22.1 million while commitment appropriations will rise by 5 % EUR 18.9 million. EMSA states that this figure suffices for existing contracts and commitments. Elsewhere increases are available for inspection activities (of about 10%), training activities related to Port State Control and the development of maritime safety databases.

Your draftsperson supports the general level of funding proposed and is aware that, year on year, the pattern of requirement for commitment and payment appropriations for anti-pollution activity will vary depending on the dates and duration, as well as financial implementation of contracts for ship use signed by EMSA. Nevertheless she reserves the right to return to this matter if necessary by way of amendments. Generally, given that the level of funding is agreed by EMSA itself and the Commission, she sees no grounds for reducing these sums in Council's adoption of the Draft Budget.

European Aviation Safety Agency

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) derives the bulk of its income from fees and charges. In fact for 2009 fees and charges will provide EASA with EUR 68.4 million in revenue, an increase from 2008 of 28%. The PDB for 2009 gives a total of EUR 29.18 million for both commitment and payment appropriations, a reduction of 2.7% on 2008. Again, however, a surplus in Assigned Revenue carried over from previous years brings the total EU funded expenditure to EUR 31.54 million. This is EUR 1.66 million less than the EASA's initial request. There is a sharp projected rise in EASA's operating expenditure of 26.9%, bringing this to EUR 34.8 million. This covers air worthiness certification, organisation approvals and technical training. The full impact of the extension of the Agencies competences following adoption of Regulation (EC) No 736/2006 will be felt in 2009. Your draftsperson takes the view that further staffing resources are required to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities from National Aviation Authorities, without excessive dependence on them and contractors. For this reason she will consider a budget amendment of EUR 1.66 million.

European Railway Agency

Budget of the European Railway Agency (ERA) in the PDB 2009 is set at EUR 16.06 million in both commitment and payment appropriations. Again this is supplemented by carried over Assigned Revenue to a total of EUR 21.00 million. The total amount available in the 2008 budget was EUR 18.0 million. The ERA's operational tasks are largely defined by Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 and the new ERA regulation, where unforeseen additional tasks may arise as the regulation is adopted, especially in respect of ERTMS. This might give rise to a further budgetary requirement in 2009 which might have to be addressed at a later point in this procedure, or through an amending budget.

Support Activities to European Transport Policy and Passenger Rights

This Budget line is a new denomination and appears to be an amalgam of previous lines whose principal purposes were information collection, dissemination and analysis, including on passenger rights. It shows a reduction of 30% when the 2008 budget and the PDB 2009 are compared for payments, down to EUR 14.5 million. However as outturn in 2007 was EUR 15.5 million, this reduction may not be excessive. However your draftsperson may consider a modest amendment to restore payments to this previous level.

Current Pilot Projects

Your draftsperson takes the view that pilot projects are exactly that and cannot of themselves address and resolve major technical or policy problems. They can only give an indication of possible future courses of action and the key is for the Commission, Council and European Parliament to draw the appropriate conclusion on the pilots and report on what would be an appropriate follow-up, if any. The pilot project on the security of the Trans European Road Network is drawing to a close although payment appropriation expenditure here is up slightly from 2008 to EUR 1.655 million. The preparatory action to facilitate cross border traffic on the EU's north eastern frontier is in its second year with payments appropriations of EUR 2.45 million proposed for 2009. Your draftsperson will propose amendments in line with its opinion on the Preliminary Draft Budget.

Transport Security (Article 06 07 01)

This hybrid line covers both information collection and analysis in respect of common standards, approximation of legislation, international coordination and promotion of research. It also pays for a corps of inspectors to check security at airports and ports, in conjunction with the Member States. Although payment appropriations are being reduced from € 3.5 million in 2008 to EUR 2.3 million in 2009 this is due to the completion of a pilot project. The number of planned inspections on the other hand is due to increase.

Research Related to Transport and SESAR (Article 06 06 02)

The PDB 2009 shows a reduction of 49% in commitment appropriations and 45% in payment appropriations in transport research support intended to encourage modal shift to rail, public transport and cycling. The reduction in commitment appropriations is almost EUR 60 million when 2008 budget and 2009 PDB are compared. However, within the same overall line, the SESAR joint undertaking appears for the first time, to implement the technological component of the Single Sky. PDB figures for this are EUR 51.5 million and EUR 23.5 million in commitments and payments respectively. This brings the overall line up to approximately its 2008 level but remains slightly below the financial programming for 2009 foreseen one year ago (EUR -0.685 million). Your draftsperson will propose an amendment here.

Marco Polo II Programme

Your draftsperson welcomes the increase in both commitment and payment appropriations for a programme to facilitate the transfer of freight from road to rail and other modes. If nothing is done road freight will grow by 60% to 2013. In 2009 thirty-five new projects will be launched within the programme. The Commission estimates that for each Euro spent, fourteen are saved in external costs. The increase in commitment appropriations is to EUR 60.35 million and in payment appropriations to EUR 17.0 million, 5.1% and 8.3 % respectively.

Galileo

This is easily the second largest expenditure item, second only to the Trans- European Transport Networks. With the Galileo Agency it represents about 40% of all transport commitment appropriations. In 2009 it will cost € 828 million in commitment appropriations and € 360 million in payment appropriations, increases of 7 % and 20% respectively (when sums coming from reserve are considered). This follows recent decisions on the funding of the project over its lifetime and should be related to the benefits to be obtained in pollution reduction through much improved traffic management. Expenditure foreseen relates to the deployment phase and the first series of activities related to the operating phase.

Trans European Networks

The main feature of the 2009 PDB in respect of TEN-T is a significant increase in payment appropriations which rise from EUR 370 million in 2008 to € 613 million, a increase of 65.7 %. EUR 229 million is earmarked for ERTMS which is described as a high priority. The number of projects under management is continuing to increase and in 2009, as for the period, particular priority will be given to the cross border sections of trans-frontier projects. At the time of writing four of the thirty priority projects are operational, twenty are at the construction phase and six are at study phase. Although 2009 is not planned to be the year of highest expenditure, it does represent a year in which payment appropriation use for the programme period 2007-2013 rises significantly. In general terms of course the EU budget is a facilitator and a catalyst for TEN-T projects. Much depends on the mobilisation of national budgets and the successful use of new financial instruments using private finance, successful also in respecting the objective of modal shift in the latter's case. With the individual decisions for the projects being taken in 2008, the European Parliament needs carefully monitor progress as from 2009. To this end it would be useful to have a synthesis report that includes the most important benchmarks of the projects according to which progress can be monitored. Your draftsperson will include a comment in the TEN-T budget line for that purpose.

Conclusion

The comments above are based on the Preliminary Draft Budget for 2009 and were prepared before the Draft Budget as adopted by Council was available. Your draftsperson's substantive amendments will address that draft budget. In particular she reserves the right to introduce amendments where the Council makes across the board, fixed percentage cuts which do not reflect needs, on the ground realities or European Parliament policy priorities in respect of individual lines.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

9.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

37

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Gabriele Albertini, Paolo Costa, Michael Cramer, Christine De Veyrac, Luis de Grandes Pascual, Arūnas Degutis, Petr Duchoň, Saïd El Khadraoui, Robert Evans, Emanuel Jardim Fernandes, Francesco Ferrari, Brigitte Fouré, Mathieu Grosch, Stanisław Jałowiecki, Georg Jarzembowski, Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Sepp Kusstatscher, Bogusław Liberadzki, Eva Lichtenberger, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Josu Ortuondo Larrea, Luís Queiró, Reinhard Rack, Luca Romagnoli. Brian Simpson, Renate Sommer, Dirk Sterckx, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Armando Veneto, Lars Wohlin, Roberts Zīle,

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Guy Bono, Philip Bradbourn, Lily Jacobs, Elisabeth Jeggle, Corien Wortmann-Kool

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

 

OPINION of the Committee on Regional Development (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Miloš Koterec

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

At the end of the first quarter of 2008 the European Commission was able to approve all the National Strategic Frameworks thus reducing the risk of undue delays such as those which incurred at the start of the previous programming period. It should be noted at this point that unlike certain other policy areas, whilst overall priorities are set out in the relevant regulations, and the allocation of resources distributed among the 27 Member States in the year preceding the beginning of the programming period[1], the precise allocation of funding to different projects at a national level, is dependent on the Member State's strategic reference framework, and the uptake of Community funds for the agreed operational programmes.

Thus it is recalled that "All figures for the Structural funds and the Cohesion Fund are derived from the envelope decided in the legal basis and are fully consistent with the ceilings of the IIA". In making its budgetary provisions therefore, the European Commission has assessed budgetary needs taking into account the decisions of the European Council of 2005, the provisions of the financial perspective 2007-2013 and the IAA, the amounts due under projects closing down under the 2000-2006 programming period, the likely calls for advance payment for the current period. Thus Structural funds 2009 commitments increase by 2.5% to a total of € 48.413.9 million whilst provisions for payments fall by 13.9% to € 34.914.1 million.

The need for continued budgetary discipline and the pan European decline in public investment have shifted emphasis on to the need to create the conditions required for:

Ø Net job creation schemes;

Ø addressing social exclusion;

Ø The development of the knowledge based economy.

On this point the European Commission tells us[2] that for the period 2007-2013 it is expected that 775.000 gross jobs will be created under the Convergence objective and the Competitiveness and employment objective.

It is this approach, which will be the yardstick for measuring the success of Regional policy during the mid-term review which will take place in 2009 and it is in the context of addressing the problem of social exclusion that the proposed pilot project must be seen.

During 2009 the Commission has been monitoring the 2000-2006 programming period and the closure of the programmes and projects as well as assessing the impact the policy has had during that period. We are told that over the reference period both ERDF objectives 1 and 2 regions performed very well on the growth and convergence targets. In particular the GDP of Objective 1 regions grew from 64% of the EU 15 average in 1995 to 70% in 2003.

As in 2008 the share out of commitment appropriations for 2009 is provisional and based on historical data of the 2000-2006 programming period. Nevertheless, the European Commission is clearly the only institution having access to the information required to assess the full budgetary requirements and it is for this reason that your draftsman proposes that any unjustified changes introduced by Council in its Draft Budget be immediately rectified by Parliament.

As has been established practice, the total amount allocated for each year is committed at the beginning of the year leaving little or no room for Parliament to propose pilot projects. Your draftsman is aware of the many activities the European Commission and the Member States are undertaking in favour of disadvantaged groups and in particular the Roma. However he is also aware of the relatively low level of effectiveness and a lack of coordination at pan European level concerning the activities aimed at assisting the integration of these peoples.

EU strategy for regional development has established several horizontal policies. The development of Roma communities is one of the most important in this regard. Stressed in all relevant national strategic frameworks throughout the Union there is a more or less horizontal approach to this specific problem. At the same time there is a lack of strategic coordination and exchange of experience and best practices between member states, although each country which tackles the issues of the development of Roma community has its own specificities, the core of the problem is the same.

The aim of the pilot project therefore is to undertake a new approach to training and education of the Roma communities beginning with preschool children, through the further education of young mothers up to the training and education of adults. The pilot project shall be based on current understanding of the Roma communities´ problems in the European Union putting the emphasis on the whole complex and synergic spectrum of best procedures in this regard. It is your draftsman's view that it is only by creating a well coordinated, pan- European approach that this can be achieved.

Finally, and in view of the very small margin that exceptionally is available in the technical assistance envelope, I have proposed to reduce the amount of credits available on the relevant budget line (13.03.20) transferring the sum of € 5 million to a new budget line which is to be created with the title:

Pilot project: Pan European activities for and coordination of integration methods for the Roma.

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Regional Development calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.   Takes the view that the amounts for regional policy entered in the preliminary draft budget correspond to the needs of the Union in its efforts to reduce regional disparities and meet the Lisbon and Gothenburg objectives; therefore calls for all PDB budget lines to be maintained or, where necessary, restored;

2.   Expresses concern at the considerable reduction in structural fund payment appropriations compared with 2008, and looks to the Commission to carry out a fresh analysis of the basic situation;

3    Notes, however, that in two PDB budget lines of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which concern in particular the Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective and the European Territorial Cooperation Objective, the commitments are reduced compared to 2008; stresses the importance of attributing adequate resources to these objectives which are central to regional development; calls, therefore, for an increase in these commitments at least to the levels of the 2008 PDB, taking also into account the yearly inflation rate;

4.   Stresses Parliament's wish for special attention to be given in the draft general budget for 2009 to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as micro enterprises, bearing in mind their role in regional development;

5.   Calls on the Commission to undertake a pilot project to test a new approach to the training and education of the Roma communities, beginning with pre-school children, continuing with the further education of young mothers and including the training and education of adults, thus enabling the Roma to be self-sufficient in development; recommends that this pilot project be based on the current understanding of the Roma communities' problems in the European Union and have an emphasis on the whole complex and synergic spectrum of best procedures in this regard.

6.   Calls on the Commission to undertake a pilot project to promote knowledge of, and experience in, EU Regional Policy in third countries through the organisation of international events, network building between regional and local stakeholders, development of joint projects and new regional partnerships, as well as the exchange of good practices; considers that such a pilot project would be instrumental in promoting EU values and cohesion policies through these regional dialogues; recommends that the Commission cooperate with the Forum of Global Associations of Regions (FOGAR) and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), in order to ensure complementarities and synergies between their respective actions in this field;

7.   Calls on the Commission to implement a pilot project to set up an Erasmus programme for local elected representatives to contribute to exchanges of good practice in the area of governance and thereby set in motion a process of continuous learning aimed at all individuals involved, in particular regional and local elected representatives; recommends, in this connection, that regional and urban policies be brought under an integrated development strategy, which is, however, possible only through improved governance.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

9.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

48

2

2

Members present for the final vote

Emmanouil Angelakas, Stavros Arnaoutakis, Elspeth Attwooll, Jean Marie Beaupuy, Rolf Berend, Victor Boştinaru, Wolfgang Bulfon, Giorgio Carollo, Antonio De Blasio, Petru Filip, Gerardo Galeote, Iratxe García Pérez, Eugenijus Gentvilas, Ambroise Guellec, Gábor Harangozó, Marian Harkin, Jim Higgins, Filiz Hakaeva Hyusmenova, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, Rumiana Jeleva, Gisela Kallenbach, Tunne Kelam, Evgeni Kirilov, Miloš Koterec, Constanze Angela Krehl, Florencio Luque Aguilar, Sérgio Marques, Yiannakis Matsis, Miroslav Mikolášik, James Nicholson, Lambert van Nistelrooij, Jan Olbrycht, Maria Grazia Pagano, Maria Petre, Markus Pieper, Pierre Pribetich, Giovanni Robusti, Wojciech Roszkowski, Elisabeth Schroedter, Grażyna Staniszewska, Catherine Stihler, Margie Sudre, Andrzej Jan Szejna, Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, Oldřich Vlasák

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Brigitte Douay, Den Dover, Emanuel Jardim Fernandes, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Eleonora Lo Curto, Zita Pleštinská, Iuliu Winkler

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

 
  • [1]  European Council December 2005
  • [2]  p42 SEC(2008)514

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (9.10.2008)

for the Committee on Budgetson the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Kyösti Virrankoski

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.  Notes that by far the largest portion of the overall margin of EUR 2 638 000 000 in the Preliminary Draft Budget, i.e. an amount of EUR 2 027 000 000, stems from the margin of market-related expenditure and direct payments under heading 2 (first Common Agricultural Policy (PAC) pillar);

2.  Is concerned about the difference in commitment and payment levels for Rural Development which was 25% for 2007, 30% for 2008 and a proposed 30% for 2009; requests, therefore, from the Commission a forecast for decommitments for 2009 and for the whole financial period for 2007-2013 and a forecast for the problems with clearing the build-up of overstatements still to be settled (currently the level of RAL under Rural Development is nearly EUR 9 000 000 000) at the end of the financial period 2007-2013 since maximum payment levels under Annex I of the aforementioned Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission fall from 1.06% Gross National Income in 2007 to 0.94% Gross National Income in 2013;

3.  Calls, therefore, on the Commission to ensure swift management and a more rapid and efficient timeframe for modifying and updating the rural development programmes following the possible modifications to the regulation provided for in the framework of the Cap Health Check”;

4.  Recalls that the primary goal of the CAP is to guarantee market stabilisation, supply security and reasonable prices for consumers and therefore calls on the Council and the Commission to foresee for budget 2009 the necessary means to face the new needs arising from the current food crisis, especially an improvement of access to food for the most deprived people who are suffering the most from this crisis;

5.  Points to the importance of setting up and strengthening European programmes directed towards good nutrition, such as the school milk and school fruit scheme;

6.  Recalls its resolution of 19 June 2008 on the future of the sheep/lamb and goat sector in Europe[1], in which it calls on the Council and the Commission to direct additional financial support as a matter of urgency to EU sheep and goat meat and milk producers in order to develop a vibrant, self-sufficient, market-led and consumer-orientated sheep and goat sector in the EU;

7.  Considers that the abovementioned Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA) must be respected when creating a rapid response facility for responding to soaring food prices in developing countries; insists that the establishment of such facility necessitates amendment of the abovementioned Interinstitutional Agreement, transferring unspent amounts from Heading 2 to Heading 4; underlines that such amendment of the IIA can be achieved in a timely manner if there is a consensus between the institutions; is concerned about the significant price increase for fertilisers and expects that the planned purchase of fertilisers using funds from the above-mentioned facility will amplify this trend;

8.  Stresses the importance of transparency in production and distribution chains in the agriculture and food sectors, and calls on the Commission to set up a monitoring system for these;

9.  Points out that a threatening further modulation foreseen in the context of the CAP Health Check, which transfers funds from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) to the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), would increase the amount needed for national co-financing; calls on the Commission to monitor carefully the possible programming of this money in the Member States and underlines that increased EU funds entail co-financing by the Members States and warns that it should not lead to a reduction of co-financing in the existing operational programmes;

10. Encourages the Commission to establish, within the framework of the EAFRD and in accordance with the Union commitments under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, a European open data and pooling bank for traditional plant varieties which will enable non-governmental organisations and private and public-sector bodies to set up, alongside Member States’ national gene banks, a seed pool for traditional plant varieties which are particularly valuable for preserving biodiversity in agriculture and for producing quality foodstuffs;

11. Points once again to its position in favour of creating a restructuring fund for milk, with the aim of enabling the sector to adjust to the new situation, against the background of the possible abolition of the quota system - particularly in disadvantaged and sensitive regions;

12. Urges the Council and Commission to increase the budget for young farmers as this group is facing considerable new challenges (for example combating climate change and maintaining food production in the Union) and has been diminishing for years, for example by strengthening the means for education, training networks and exchange programmes for young farmers or by strengthening the policy tools for young farmers in the Rural Development programme;

13. Calls for a pilot project for assessing the costs borne by farmers as a result of their compliance with Union standards in the fields of the environment, animal welfare and food safety, as well as the costs for farmers associated with the provision of public goods such as landscape preservation through farming activities;

14. Calls for a significant increase in appropriations for the school fruit scheme.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date of adoption

7.10.2008

Result of final vote

+: 32

–: 0

0: 1

 

Members present for the final vote

Vincenzo Aita, Peter Baco, Niels Busk, Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos, Giovanna Corda, Albert Deß, Gintaras Didžiokas, Konstantinos Droutsas, Constantin Dumitriu, Michl Ebner, Ioannis Gklavakis, Lutz Goepel, Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, Esther Herranz García, Elisabeth Jeggle, Heinz Kindermann, Stéphane Le Foll, Véronique Mathieu, Mairead McGuinness, Neil Parish, María Isabel Salinas García, Agnes Schierhuber, Czesław Adam Siekierski, Alyn Smith, Petya Stavreva, Donato Tommaso Veraldi

Substitutes present for the final vote

Katerina Batzeli, Esther De Lange, Astrid Lulling, Maria Petre, Struan Stevenson, Kyösti Virrankoski

Substitutes under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

Vicente Miguel Garcés Ramón, Bernard Wojciechowski

OPINION of the Committee on Fisheries (9.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Emanuel Jardim Fernandes

Introduction

With the exception of fisheries research, all activities in the field of maritime affairs and fisheries are fully carried out under heading 2 'Preservation and Management of Natural Resources'. There are two main instruments: (a) the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), and (b) the so called "second instrument", covering all other actions related to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), including international fisheries and the Law of the Sea. A preparatory action and a pilot project for the launch of the implementation of the European Maritime Policy complete the picture in the PDB 2009.

For the EFF, the Commission proposes EUR 631,7 million in commitment appropriations and EUR 561,1 million in payment appropriations, respectively + 3,1 % and + 24,5 % relative to the 2008 budget. The relatively strong increase in payments is mainly explained by the fact that the 2008 budget was marked by low payment levels as all advances were already budgeted in 2007. For the PDB 2009, the payment appropriations proposed concern the new 2007-2013 EFF programmes and the clearance of the outstanding commitments of the lines that formed part of the 2000-2006 Structural Funds programmes (completion of the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG)).

For the CFP, the appropriations proposed are, in total, EUR 297,8 million for commitments and EUR 269,3 million for payments. Compared to 2008, this represents a decrease of 6 % and 11 % respectively. It reflects the Commission's efforts to adjust budget appropriations to the actual implementation observed in the most recent years. To these figures, EUR 5,7 million have to be added for the Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA). Compared to 2008, this represents an average decrease of 23 % for all titles of the CFCA.

Expenditure for international activities (EUR 194,3 million in both commitments and payments) decreases by 8 % compared to 2008. This decrease is mainly due to renegotiated and adjusted amounts for several Fisheries Partnership Agreements with third countries and to lower needs for non-compulsory contributions to international fisheries organisations. Most of the appropriations asked for are intended to finance fisheries agreements in force. For the renewal of some existing fisheries agreements which are about to expire and some new agreements which are to be negotiated an amount of around EUR 29 million is set for on the reserve line. The remaining part is intended to guarantee the Community's participation in an increasing number of international and regional fisheries organisations, as well as for related preparatory work.

Comments

The overall appropriations allocated to fisheries in the PDB 2009 represent continuity by comparison with the previous financial year, which must be considered a negative development given that previous budgets already represented the minimum necessary to carry out the steps required of public administrations in order to implement a coherent Community Fisheries and Maritime policy with the requisite resources to make it effective.

For the fishing industry, the increased external economic pressure of fuel price increases adds to existing pressures from fleet overcapacity and an eroded resource base caused by overfishing. In the fisheries sector, at current price levels, fuel costs are estimated to be more than 30% of the value of EU fish landings. Some operators, especially trawlers, are the hardest hit as fuel costs can represent up to 50% of income. In contrast, in recent years, fish prices have stagnated or even decreased, resulting in substantial losses for the sector and critical social problems for the fisherman in general.

Although the Commission proposes to restructure the fisheries sector in line with the current macroeconomic situation, concrete measures are needed to help ensure the survival of those segments of the European fleet that are most vulnerable while taking care of the economic and social repercussions. In this context, additional support is urgently needed to reflect on assistance to fishermen during the restructuring of the sector and exceptional fuel prices.

This support should arise from the CFP with an increase in appropriations and payments, new measures of a social nature or other exceptional measures aiming at restructuring the fishing fleet, reducing prices and fuel dependency and give greater social support to the fisherman, making the sector more environmentally friendly, less fuel dependant and guaranteeing fisherman a fair deal for their catches. The draftsman considers that such extraordinary measures should also lead to greater innovation in the sector and enable fisherman to adapt to the re-structuring of the sector and are absolutely essential in an exceptional time as the current one.

The Commission's PDB 2009 cuts the item intended to co-finance control measures carried out by the Member States by 3,1 %, on the grounds that this item was not fully used under the previous budget and that particular technical support programmes are to be implemented in 2008.

This reduction may in future serve as something of an alibi to cover up poor management by those countries which do not set aside sufficient resources to strengthen fisheries control, a competence which they guard jealously whilst at the same time paying little attention to the satisfactory performance of their tasks, which is their legal obligation. Furthermore, this reduction is not in line with the Court's of Auditor Special report 7/2007[1] which stresses that the Member States should develop analytical programming and follow-up tools for their inspection activities to enable them to ensure that there is adequate overall control pressure and optimal deployment of resources.

In view of their specific characteristics, particular attention needs to be paid to the outermost regions in order to offset the strong disadvantages arising from their isolation and natural conditions. The Council has approved a financial support mechanism for 2008 amounting to EUR 15 million, which does not correspond to the amount of EUR 17 million voted by the European Parliament and thus, this amount will evidently need to be restored. The current legal framework will also need to be adapted to reflect such an increase.

Maritime policy is one of the Union’s strategic objectives. The aim is that the various initiatives in the fields of maritime transport, tourism, fisheries, the environment, the conservation of natural resources and research and development should converge and produce a multiplier effect with a view to the development of a European Union maritime policy.

The ground needs to be prepared for the development of this new integrated policy on the marine environment. This means that the corresponding financial resources with which to launch preparatory initiatives need to be available to continue implementation of already started Preparatory action on Maritime Policy and the Pilot project on Networking and best practices in maritime policy. It is therefore highly appropriate that the corresponding budget items have been entered in the 2009 budget, thus ensuring that these initiatives will not be blocked in 2009.

The draftsman expresses his concern, in this context, that a new European Union maritime policy could develop to detriment of the existing priority areas of the CFP as far as it relates to their respective budgetary funding. EUR 6 million provided for the second year implementation of both the Preparatory action (EUR 4,1 million) and the Pilot project (EUR 1,9 million) are not sufficient to cover all aspects of the launching of a new European Union maritime policy. In future, this requires an adequate financing under more than one budget line.

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Fisheries calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1. Welcomes the proposals for the Fisheries and Maritime Policy Budget in 2009 despite the fact that the resources decided on under the Financial Perspective for 2007-2013 are insufficient to meet the needs of the fisheries sector at a time of profound, continued crisis in the fishing industry, characterised by increased costs, particularly for fuel, smaller catches, and lower income;

2. Welcomes, equally, the package of measures submitted by the Commission with a view to helping fishermen deal with the crisis arising from rising fuel prices; calls on the Commission to submit, as soon as possible, the ad hoc financial instrument or other mechanism as finally chosen which will release the necessary resources should the Member States' reprogramming of the EFF not suffice, in line with the Commission communication on the adaptation of the fishing fleets to the consequences of high fuel prices (COM(2008)0453);

3. Considers that a pilot project for a market price observatory should be included in the 2009 budget with a view to help analysing the setting of prices throughout the value chain of fisheries products;

4. Welcomes the continuation of the Preparatory Action on Maritime Policy and the Pilot Project on Networking and Best Practices in Maritime Policy in the 2009 budget, thus ensuring that these initiatives will not be blocked in 2009;

5. Expresses its concern at the cuts in allocations intended to co-finance control measures carried out by the Member States; considers that the CFP can be duly implemented only on the basis of full compliance by the Member States with fisheries controls;

6. Considers that the Commission must provide the necessary technical, logistic and financial aid to enable developing countries to implement the newly-agreed catch certification scheme, as required by Council Regulation (EC) No .../2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing;

7. Expresses its concern that a new European Union maritime policy could develop to detriment of the existing priority areas of the CFP as far as it relates to their budgetary funding; the funds proposed are not sufficient to cover all aspects of the launch of a new European Union maritime policy; in future, such a policy will require adequate financing under more than one budget line.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

8.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

22

1

0

Members present for the final vote

Iles Braghetto, Zdzisław Kazimierz Chmielewski, Carmen Fraga Estévez, Struan Stevenson, Margie Sudre, Cornelis Visser, Stavros Arnaoutakis, Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos, Paulo Casaca, Emanuel Jardim Fernandes, Heinz Kindermann, Rosa Miguélez Ramos, Elspeth Attwooll, Philippe Morillon, Marie-Hélène Aubert, Pedro Guerreiro

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Colm Burke, Eleonora Lo Curto, Ole Christensen, Teresa Riera Madurell, Jan Mulder, Josu Ortuondo Larrea, Kathy Sinnott, Thomas Wise

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

Salvador Domingo Sanz Palacio
  • [1]  Special Report No 7/2007 on the control, inspection and sanction systems relating to the rules on conservation of Community fisheries resources together with the Commission's replies. Official Journal C317, 28.12.2007.

OPINION of the Committee on Culture and Education (11.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Helga Trüpel

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

General

The Committee on Culture and Education deals with budget lines under heading 1a "Competitiveness for growth and employment", 3b "Citizenship" and 5 "Administration". In the Preliminary Draft Budget (PDB) presented by the Commission these are titles 9, 15, 16, 25 and 26.

For 2009, the proposed overall ceiling for commitment appropriations (CA) is EUR 136 211 million and represents 1,05% of the Gross National Income (GNI) of the EU-27 whereas the ceiling for payment appropriations (PA) corresponds to 0,95% GNI. The Preliminary Draft Budget adopted by the Commission for 2009 foresees commitments of EUR 134 394,9 million which is an increase of 3,1% compared to 2008. It leaves a total margin of EUR 2 638,1 million. As far as the main headings which are of interest to the Committee on Culture and Education are concerned, heading 1a has a margin of EUR 82 million and heading 3b disposes of a margin of EUR 22,3 million (Heading 2 "Preservation and management of natural resources" has the largest margin: EUR 2113,3 million).

Two of the instruments that give a certain flexibility to the budget and that can be used by the Parliament are pilot projects and preparatory actions. However, there are strict limits to proposing pilot projects and preparatory actions. The Financial Regulation states that for a pilot project the relevant commitment appropriations may be entered in the budget for not more than two successive financial years. They may not exceed EUR 40 million in any budget year. New preparatory actions may not exceed EUR 50 million in any budget year, and the total amount of appropriations actually committed for preparatory actions may not exceed EUR 100 million.

The programmes in the area of culture, education and audiovisual are implemented under different management structures that involve in varying degrees the Commission DGs, National Agencies and the Executive Agency. It should be noted that whereas the administrative expenditure for the Commission and the subsidies for the Executive Agency are clearly indicated in the budget, the financial contributions to the functioning of the national agencies are taken from the operational budget of the programmes strands they are managing and are therefore less visible.

As a general remark, your rapporteur will ensure that, should the Council in its Draft Budget propose cuts to the budget lines for which this committee is responsible, the original amounts indicated in the PDB will be reinstated.

Information Society and Media (Title 09)

The committee is responsible for a number of budget lines that fall under title 09 "Information society and media". These are lines which essentially relate to the MEDIA 2007 programme. They are included under heading 3b of the Financial Framework.

The operational funding for the MEDIA 2007 programme (budget line 09 06 01) is set at EUR 97,58 million in commitments which is an increase of 4% compared to 2008. Besides the support for the EU's audiovisual sector it also contributes to the support of media literacy measures for the young public by raising its awareness of the European audiovisual legacy.

Last year Parliament voted for the introduction of a preparatory action for the implementation of a Media funding scheme for third countries and allocated a total of EUR 2 million. This action should support the cooperation between the audiovisual industries of third countries and those of Member States. The Commission has already started the implementation by publishing a call for proposals. It considers this preparatory action could, in the future, lead to a new funding programme. To assess this possibility, the Commission has launched a public consultation in order to receive comments and suggestions from stakeholders. The full amount of EUR 2 million has been entered in the 2008 budget. However, the implementation of the action (and thereby the payment for projects funded through this action) can run for up to 3 years.

In the context of the new Audiovisual Media Services Directive, certain monitoring activities are financed that relate to the implementation of the directive, including studies related to media pluralism.

Education and Culture (Title 15)

The budget lines under this title are to be found either under heading 1a or heading 3b of the Financial Framework. The main items are the multiannual programmes Lifelong Learning (located under heading 1a), Culture (3b), Youth in Action (3b), Europe for Citizens (3b) and Erasmus Mundus (1a).

The operational budget of the Lifelong Learning programme sees an increase of 7,1 % to EUR 935 million in commitments. The Culture programme's budget grows by 14,8 % to EUR 51,226 million, whereas Youth is set for only a slight increase of 0,1% in commitments (but 15% in payments) to EUR 121,106 million. Europe for Citizens' operational budget expands by 3,9 % to EUR 7,460 million.

Since most of the programmes, apart from Erasmus Mundus, started in 2007, it is now possible to see the first clear proven results. Based on these results, the 2009 forecast for the Lifelong Learning programme (15 02 22) sees an overall increase in Comenius, Erasmus and Grundtvig activities but a decrease from 70.000 to 60.000 mobility grants in Leonardo activities. According to the legal base, Leonardo is supposed to reach 80.000 annual grants at the end of the programme in 2013. The level of satisfaction among programme participants is high (between 75 and 87% of participants considered their experience positive).

34 countries will take part in the Culture programme (15 04 44) as of 2008. As a new element, an EU music prize will be awarded for the first time.

As regards the Europe for Citizens programme (15 06 66) the Commission intends to gradually set up a new system of national information structures, similar to the Cultural Contact Points in order to improve dissemination and information on the programme.

As far as Youth (15 05 55) is concerned, the programme has shown that it contributes to youth volunteer activities, a stronger feeling of solidarity and of European citizenship. The Commission aims at 120.000 participants in youth projects, 10.000 volunteers and a support of around 80 youth organisations per year. However, the final report on the predecessor programme concluded that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds were reached less easily.

Erasmus Mundus (15 02 02 05) is set to expire at the end of 2008. The successor programme Erasmus Mundus II is currently being negotiated. It is supposed to enter into force as of 2009. The Commission has put EUR 90,250 million in commitments into the reserve to cover the new programme, which corresponds to the budget available in 2008. Administrative expenditure for the new Erasmus Mundus programmes rises significantly (from EUR 1,530 million in 2008 to EUR 2,796 million in 2009), in line with the increase in the programme envelope over the entire programme period. The legal basis for the programme is still in the process of adoption and the Commission has yet to propose an extension of the mandate of the Executive Agency to cover the new programme, after which the fine-tuning of administrative expenditure is to follow.

Furthermore, the Commission has proposed a preparatory action in the field of sport which should help preparing a funding programme that is based on the experiences gained and the expectations articulated by the sports world. The Committee oc Culture and Education has just adopted an opinion requesting an increase in the budget to EUR 5 million.

The pilot project on artist mobility will come to end in 2008. However, the Commission suggest integrating its concept into the Culture successor programme after 2013.

Communication (Title 16)

The total budget, including administrative expenditure, is EUR 206,7 million. The operational budget is EUR 95,9 million which is divided into three activities: Communication and media; "going local" communication; analysis and communication tools.

For 2009, the Commission intends to reduce its funding of "going local" and analysis in order to enhance its "communication and media" activities. Recently, DG COMM has engaged in the creation of media partnerships by setting up a network of radio stations and of TV channels that will broadcast EU-related content. The radio network was created in 2007 with the cooperation of 16 radio stations. Since April 2008 it has been broadcasting in 10 languages, reaching 12-19 million listeners daily. The choice of language should gradually expand and should ultimately cover all 23 official languages. The TV network is still under construction. Its launch is foreseen for beginning of 2009. It is supposed to reach 60 million viewers daily. The idea has triggered very high interest from public and commercial broadcasters: so far over 200 channels from all over Europe have responded to the Commission's call. These new networks are supposed to complement the support granted to Euronews. Whereas the latter mainly targets well-informed viewers who already have a certain openness as regards international news, the radio and TV networks should reach the 'average' citizen who feels more connected to national programmes. 3500 hours of European content will be provided annually by these two networks as of 2008. The Commission aims at reaching 87,5 million viewers and listeners daily, compared to 40 million in 2007. In order to free up the necessary funding, the local actions and local information outlets will have to cope with cuts: around 25% of the operational budget (roughly EUR 25 million) is thus supposed to be relocated within title 16.

Communication policy still lacks a legal base, which prevents stable funding structures. Nevertheless, funding opportunities could be made more transparent for potential applicants.

The Commission intends to increase from 8 to 20 the number of so-called management partnerships with Member States' administrations. These partnerships consist in cooperation projects which are financed by the Commission but managed in partnership with the national administration and which have proved to have a useful national impact.

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Culture and Education calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.  Is determined to restore the figures presented by the Commission in its Preliminary Draft Budget in the areas of media, culture, citizenship, education and communication, should the Council decide to lower them;

2.  Requests a greater increase for the Youth in Action programme which has proved to be very successful in helping young people develop a better sense of solidarity and feel more European;

3.  Urges the Commission to continue and further finance the pilot project on artist mobility, as this project, with the funding provided so far, has been able only to cover research and networking activities that prepare the ground for truly innovative activities which themselves would constitute the actual added value of this project;

4.  Welcomes the success of the Commission's effort to create a Europe-wide TV network which so far has attracted over 200 interested companies, both public and commercial, and acknowledges the need for proper funding of such a network;

5.  Regrets the cuts in funding for the 'going local' communication activities which have proved equally useful in reaching out to citizens and which will be particularly important in the run-up to the European elections;

6.  Invites DG Communication to bring its various grant-giving activities within a more transparent structure, thereby phasing out the Pilot information networks project and integrating the EuroGlobe Pilot Project as a space for experimental projects bringing together communication and culture and strengthening the creation of European public spaces;

7.   Requests that the Commission reflect on the possibility of creating a specific budget for the implementation of the Unesco Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions to which the EU is a party and, more specifically, of making funding available in order to contribute to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity, established by Article 18 of the Convention, as the Member States have already done.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

9.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

29

2

0

Members present for the final vote

Katerina Batzeli, Ivo Belet, Giovanni Berlinguer, Nicodim Bulzesc, Marie-Hélène Descamps, Věra Flasarová, Milan Gaľa, Claire Gibault, Vasco Graça Moura, Christopher Heaton-Harris, Luis Herrero-Tejedor, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Manolis Mavrommatis, Ljudmila Novak, Dumitru Oprea, Doris Pack, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Christa Prets, Pál Schmitt, Helga Trüpel, Henri Weber, Thomas Wise, Tomáš Zatloukal

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Slavi Binev, Ignasi Guardans Cambó, Gyula Hegyi, Mary Honeyball, Raimon Obiols i Germà, László Tőkés, Jaroslav Zvěřina, Tadeusz Zwiefka

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

 

OPINION of the Committee on Legal Affairs (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Monica Frassoni

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Legal Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1.  Notes the Commission's indication that, in 2006, 833,65 administrators and 244,78 assistants, spread over 10 Directorates-General, the Legal Service and the Secretariat-General worked on the management and enforcement of Community law; regrets that the Commission has not been able to give details of the number of officials working specifically on infringement procedures;

2.  Notes, furthermore, the assertion by the Secretary-General of the Commission that the Commission is not in a position to give an overview of spending on “better regulation” because expenditure relating to impact assessments, simplification, quality of legislation and evaluation is spread across the whole budget in both operational and administrative lines, and no posting criterion exists in the Commission's accounting system; points out, nevertheless, that in its screening report of 24 April 2007 the Commission indicated that 0,5% of its staff worked on evaluation; requests the Commission to provide up-to-date and more detailed information on this matter;

3.  Draws attention to policy area 25 of the budget and observes that the Commission proposes the same expenditure as in 2008 for the impact assessment board (EUR 0,2 million) and the "frais de contentieux" (EUR 4,2 million), but a reduction of 35,5% in the expenditure for the codification of Community law (EUR 2 million instead of EUR 3,1 million in 2008);

4.  Calls on the Commission to report on the measures it has taken in recent years and on possible further proposals to "green" the institution, such as measures to reduce the use of energy, water and paper, the production of waste, and mobility plans, etc.;

5.   Draws attention to the Action Plan on European Contract Law and to the Interim Outline Edition of the academic Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR); recalls that, at the end of 2008, the study groups will present the final version of the DCFR, for use by the European institutions as a foundation for creating European contract law, and stresses that at that point it will be important for the DCFR to be available in as many official languages as possible in order to facilitate thorough debate by politicians, legal experts and other interested parties concerning the future of European contract law on the basis of the DCFR.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

9.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

24

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Bert Doorn, Monica Frassoni, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Othmar Karas, Piia-Noora Kauppi, Klaus-Heiner Lehne, Katalin Lévai, Antonio Masip Hidalgo, Hans-Peter Mayer, Manuel Medina Ortega, Hartmut Nassauer, Aloyzas Sakalas, Francesco Enrico Speroni, Daniel Strož, Rainer Wieland, Jaroslav Zvěřina, Tadeusz Zwiefka

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Ieke van den Burg, Vicente Miguel Garcés Ramón, Jean-Paul Gauzès, Georgios Papastamkos, Gabriele Stauner, Jacques Toubon

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

Renate Weber

OPINION of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (16.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its motion for a resolution:

1.   Notes with satisfaction that the increase in the budget for Title 18 "Area of Freedom, Security and Justice" for the financial year 2008 is maintained in the financial year 2009 with an important emphasis on the chapters on Security and safeguarding liberties, Migration flows - Common immigration and asylum policies and Solidarity-External borders, visa policy and free movement of people; this is a reflection of the growing importance of this area for citizens of the Union;

2.   Recalls that the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex) has an important and increasing role to play in the integrated management of external borders; therefore, proposes a subsequent increase in the operational expenditure of the agency for the financial year 2009; considers that the increase in the operational budget shall also enable Frontex to sustain the commitment to permanent missions; will require the Agency to appear before the responsible committee to present the 2009 work programme;

3.   Wishes to be informed regularly about the implementation of both the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), and the Visa Information System (VIS), and about the actual budgetary implications of these large-scale IT systems;

4.   Insists that the European Police College (Cepol) delivers all the objectives included in the 2009 work programme and calls on the Member States to be more involved in its actions;

5.   Calls on the Members States to establish a common Schengen visa internet site in order to further support the application of the common visa policy; this internet site should also support the handling of the visa procedure;

6.   Calls also on the Member States to be more involved in the activities of agencies such as Frontex and Cepol so that these bodies deliver the objectives set out in their work programme;

7.   Considers that all relevant agencies should establish a closer and more structured cooperation on matters of mutual interest;

8.   Recalls that in its resolution of 18 June 2008 on Missing persons in Cyprus[1] Parliament supported the allocation of further financial support to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) for the years 2009 onwards; calls on the Council to agree to this further financial assistance for 2009 and on the Commission not only to continue the work, but also to increase capacity (particularly field capacity), to hire more scientists and to fund more equipment;

9.   Requests the Commission to include in the Community actions section of the 2009 work programmes of the European Refugee Fund and of the Return Fund the compilation of data for collaboration and exchange of best practices among the educators of minors in closed detention centres for asylum seekers and immigrants;

10. Requests the Commission to make use of the additional amounts granted to the European Refugee Fund in order to identify and to promote specific measures needed to intensify the resettlement activities; also calls on the Member States to implement the specific priorities linked to resettlement activities with the additional appropriation granted.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

15.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

35

4

0

Members present for the final vote

Alexander Alvaro, Emine Bozkurt, Mihael Brejc, Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg, Giusto Catania, Jean-Marie Cavada, Carlos Coelho, Panayiotis Demetriou, Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop, Urszula Gacek, Kinga Gál, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Kartika Tamara Liotard, Lívia Járóka, Ewa Klamt, Magda Kósáné Kovács, Stavros Lambrinidis, Viktória Mohácsi, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Rareş-Lucian Niculescu, Inger Segelström, Csaba Sógor, Vladimir Urutchev, Renate Weber, Tatjana Ždanoka.

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Edit Bauer, Frieda Brepoels, Simon Busuttil, Sophia in 't Veld, Iliana Malinova Iotova, Ona Juknevičienė, Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann, Antonio Masip Hidalgo, Bill Newton Dunn, Luca Romagnoli, María Isabel Salinas García, Eva-Britt Svensson

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

Catherine Guy-Quint, Andres Tarand.

OPINION of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (11.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 – 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Costas Botopoulos

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

A.   whereas, following the outcome of the referendum in Ireland on 12 June, the European Council of 19-20 June 2008 recalled that the purpose of the Lisbon Treaty is to allow an enlarged Union to act more effectively and democratically, and it took note of the ongoing ratification process,

B.    whereas the entire Lisbon Treaty ratification process, and in particular the Irish referendum campaign, demonstrated that, in terms of communication policy, the EU still has much to achieve, all the more so in view of the upcoming European elections in 2009,

C.   whereas Parliament, in its resolution on first reflections on the 2009 Preliminary Draft Budget[1], expressed its concern "about the reductions proposed by the Commission for a number of budgetary lines under which communication activities are financed, particularly in the context of the tasks and new challenges in this area to be faced in 2009, such as the European elections or the possible entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty",

1.    Underlines the need for deeper involvement of civil society in the European debate and for developing a continuous and wide-ranging communication policy aimed at familiarising EU citizens with EU policy-making and the programmes undertaken by the EU; stresses, however, that these activities require further financial support;

2.    Notes that, although the overall Draft Budget for 2009 provides for an increase in commitment appropriations of 2,8% compared to the 2008 budget, the amount under heading 3b (European citizenship) has decreased by almost 30%; considers that such a decrease in this crucial policy area is regrettable and stresses, therefore, that the amounts must be substantially increased and optimally used;

3.    Expresses its satisfaction that, in 2008, a new instrument for financing political foundations at EU level entered into force and that several European foundations have already been established; invites the Commission to strive to facilitate the foundations' activities in research and political education during their early stages;

4.    Suggests increasing the funds available for European political parties in order to invigorate a pan-European political debate and to pave the way for a European media and political-party domain, especially in view of the European elections in June 2009;

5.    Commits itself to the completion and adequate funding of its visitors' centre and web-based TV channel, and to directing their activities in 2009 in a way that reinforces citizens' interest in EU affairs in general and European elections in particular;

6.    Recalls that communication programmes such as the PRINCE programme are essential for increasing citizens' awareness regarding the benefits of EU membership and for fostering closer cooperation between the Commission and the Member States; insists, therefore, that the funds to be allocated in 2009 take into account the supplementary challenges of an election year and of further institutional reform.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

10.9.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

14

4

0

Members present for the final vote

Jean-Luc Dehaene, Maria da Assunção Esteves, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann, Timothy Kirkhope, Jo Leinen, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, Ashley Mote, Rihards Pīks, Riccardo Ventre, Andrzej Wielowieyski

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Graham Booth, Costas Botopoulos, Panayiotis Demetriou, Klaus Hänsch, Roger Helmer, Georgios Papastamkos, Jacek Protasiewicz

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

 

OPINION of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Budgets

on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
(C6-0309/2008 - 2008/2026(BUD))Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1. Urges the Commission to increase its efforts to make more rapid progress towards the general implementation of the principle of gender budgeting as an essential means in promoting equality between men and women; welcomes the Commission's willingness systematically to apply gender mainstreaming in the budgetary process; awaits the study on the feasibility of gender budgeting and calls on the Commission to act on the appropriate conclusions in the EU budgetary process;

2. Disapproves of the back-loading of multiannual programmes by the Commission and urges the Commission to adopt commitment levels in line with the average level foreseen in the multiannual financial framework, in particular:

- Points out that, although for 2009, the commitments in Section 5 of the PROGRESS programme, "Equality between women and men" (item 04 04 01 05) have reached 12 % , overall commitments and payments for the period 2007-2009 are between 11.1 % and 11.2 %, falling short of the 12 % allocation to Section 5; moreover, total appropriations for the PROGRESS programme are below average multiannual level; therefore urges the Commission to bring those figures, especially in Section 5, into line with Decision No 1672/2006/EC[1], and the horizontal application of equality to the other four sections of the PROGRESS programme: employment, social protection and social inclusion, working conditions, non-discrimination and diversity;

- Observes that the Daphne III programme (Fight against violence, item 18 04 07) has not taken full advantage of the increase in its budget, therefore urges the Commission to increase commitment levels in line with the average level foreseen in the multi-annual programme envelope (EUR 116.85 million for 2007-2013, Decision No 779/2007/EC[2]); invites the Commission to evaluate the budget allocated to the human resources responsible for the evaluation of the projects, in order to increase the efficiency of the programme;

- Invites the Commission to urge Member States to increase the use of Structural Funds, in the framework of the European Social Fund, as a means of promoting equality between men and women;

3. Deplores the Commission's inefficiency in recruiting the Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality,, established by Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006[3] of 20 December 2006; considers that grade AD13 is sufficient to lead the Institute, and that raising the grade of the post of Director could affect more women than men (by progressively diminishing the proportion of women in the highest grades), with the result that it is not gender neutral; rejects the Commission's proposal to change the grade of the post from AD13 to AD14;

4. Calls for a more balanced distribution of the budget lines in order to avoid budgetary monopolies; underlines that numerous associations at a European level are efficient in promoting equal opportunities between men and women; therefore calls for the budget lines related to associations promoting equality between men and women at a European level to be merged so as to ensure that the budget is fairly accessible to all associations;

5. Calls for the launch of pilot projects in the following fields: solidarity between generations, and especially carers, the input of men in the education of children and the reconciliation between family life and professional life, the acknowledgement of the informal labour of women within the framework of intergenerational networks in order to highlight the economic value of women's informal work;

6. Calls for the budget lines related to the development of policies in favour of 'DYS' (dysphasia, dyspraxia, dyslexia, dyscalculia or attention deficit disorder, etc.) and disabled persons to be maintained, especially regarding improved support towards women and men whose children suffer from disabilities and 'DYS' disorders, as well as towards the transition of DYS and disabled individuals from school to professional integration;

7. Recognises the need to support those persons affected by 'DYS' disabilities and disorders from their childhood to their social and professional integration; considers that the current support provided by the Community and the Member States to persons taking care of DYS individuals is not sufficient, while the responsibility is taken more often by women than by men; calls for appropriate action in order to ensure that women and men taking care of DYS individuals benefit from equal opportunities and supports the pilot project aimed at implementing financing in order to guarantee the promotion of better support for the educators and parents of DYS individuals respecting equal opportunities between women and men;

8. Regrets that the communications budget is lacking instruments enabling DG Communication to apply the general gender budgeting approach; stresses the importance and the role of the EU Communication policy in raising awareness about gender issues and calls for appropriate financial means to be found for this kind of action.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

9.9.2008

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

20

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Edit Bauer, Emine Bozkurt, Ilda Figueiredo, Věra Flasarová, Lissy Gröner, Zita Gurmai, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Urszula Krupa, Siiri Oviir, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Zita Pleštinská, Teresa Riera Madurell, Eva-Britt Svensson, Anna Záborská

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Gabriela Creţu, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Donata Gottardi, Mary Honeyball, Filiz Hakaeva Hyusmenova, Maria Petre
  • [1]  Decision No 1672/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity — Progress (OJ L 315, 15.11.2006, p. 1).
  • [2]  Decision No 779/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 establishing for the period 2007-2013 a specific programme to prevent and combat violence against children, young people and women and to protect victims and groups at risk (Daphne III programme) as part of the General Programme Fundamental Rights and Justice (OJ L 173, 3.7.2007, p. 19).
  • [3]  Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on establishing a European Institute for Gender Equality (OJ L 403, 30.12.2006, p. 9).

PROCEDURE

Title

Draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009, Section III – Commission

References

C6-0309/2008 – 2008/2026 (BUD)

Committee responsible

  Date announced in plenary

BUDG23.9.2008

 

Referral for opinion – date announced in plenary

23.9.2008

Rapporteur(s)

  Date appointed

Jutta Haug

24.1.2008

Previous rapporteur(s)

 

Date draft general budget established by the Council

17.7.2008

Date draft general budget forwarded by the Council

0.0.0000

Discussed in committee

13.10.2008

 

 

 

 

Date adopted

13.10.2008

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

24

1

 

Members present for the final vote

Reimer Böge, Salvador Garriga Polledo, Ville Itälä, Alain Lamassoure, Janusz Lewandowski, Margaritis Schinas, Nina Škottová, László Surján, Brigitte Douay, Szabolcs Fazakas, Louis Grech, Catherine Guy-Quint, Jutta Haug, Vladimír Maňka, Anne E. Jensen, Ralf Walter, Kyösti Virrankoski, Gérard Onesta, Helga Trüpel, Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk, Nils Lundgren, Sergej Kozlík

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Esther De Lange, Rihards Pīks, Paul Rübig

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

 

 

Date tabled

14.10.2008

Comments (available in one language only)

 

...

LETTER OF AMENDMENT

Number

References

Date forwarded

Date announced in plenary

1/2009

SEC(2008)2435

10.9.2008

0.0.0000
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