Mr President, some weeks ago, on behalf of the European Liberal, Democratic and Reformist Group, I proposed at the Committee on Institutional Affairs that we should set the comitology budget for the Council at zero. I am glad to say that the Committee on Institutional Affairs supported that and I am glad to say that the Committee on Budgets has also supported it.

We have done so as a signal of profound political frustration at the foot-dragging by Council in relation to the matter of resolving the comitology question. It is an issue which I accept is very obscure to the general public, but it is among the most unacceptable aspects of the democratic deficit in this Union, especially after the ratification of the Treaty on European Union and the coming into force of Article 189(b) on co-decision.

The extraordinary position now prevails that on many matters of policy the European Parliament is a co-legislator on the primary legislation but is not even informed of the relevant implementing measures. And even if informed, it would have no say, even in areas which we have indicated as being politically sensitive. Council says that this is a matter for itself alone under Article 145. After Maastricht it is totally unacceptable that this Parliament continues to be excluded.

We need to avoid a systematic breakdown of the conciliation procedure. Today I am asking Council to take note of our frustration through the budget mechanism we have proposed. The issue is not that the European Parliament should involve itself in every technical nook and cranny of legislation but rather that we should have an appropriate say to underpin our legitimate rights.