1979 BUDGET PROCEDURE: SECOND READING IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

by Altiero Spinelli

SUMMARY: The European Parliament approves the draft budget for 1979 at the second reading, restoring in particular the appropriations to the Regional Fund which were eliminated by the Council. This marks the start of a new conflict between Governments and the Parliament, which brings the two institutions before the Court of justice for the first time. "Speeches in European Parliament, 1976-1986", Pier Virgilio Dastoli Editor. (EP, 14 December 1978)

Mr President, I wish to say on behalf of the Italian members of the Communist and Allies Group that our behaviour regarding the voting procedure has been directed towards two objectives which seem to me to have been achieved.

In the first place, we have a duty to defend the rights and powers of Parliament. Mr Eberhard, to talk of abuse of power on the part of Parliament is quite out of place. On the contrary, there has been an attempt to misuse powers against Parliament... and we have shown that we know how to defend the powers conferred on Parliament by the Treaty of Rome and successive treaties ratified by all the Member States.

But there is a second factor which is not of a simply formal nature, that is, to do with institutional balance, but is more political. We are all aware that these days it has been difficult - and it is difficult - for some countries of the Community to decide to embark on this great new enterprise and try to resume the task of creating European economic and monetary union and, more generally, European Union, through the European Monetary System.

There have been dramatic moments and the problem is not yet solved. We must say that, in these circumstance, the Parliament has shown proof of greater sensitiveness regarding the Community's interests than the Council of Ministers and even the European Council.

Therefore we can be pleased with the position we have won.