A3-0137/94

Resolution on the guidelines for the 1995 budget:

Section I-European Parliament

Section II-Council

Section IV-Court of Justice

Section V-Court of Auditors

Section VI-Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its opinions of 17 November 1993 on the proposals for regulations amending the Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A3-0137/94),

A.whereas the 1995 budget procedure for the administrative budgets of the Community institutions and bodies is governed by the Treaty on European Union and the Financial Perspective annexed to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure,

B.whereas the Treaty on European Union involves a new presentation of the administrative budgets for certain Community institutions and bodies,

C.stressing that the 1994 budget adopted on 16 December 1993 did not include the entire amount contained under heading 5, administrative expenditure, an amount of ECU 16 376 737 being available,

D.whereas negotiations are in progress between the European Union and the applicant states;

1.Considers that, on the basis of the macro-economic forecasts designed to provide the frame of reference for the annual adjustments of the financial perspective, the amount available under heading 5, administrative expenditure, should see a nominal increase of ECU 218 m., i.e. 6%, by comparison with the 1994 financial year; repeats its call for the submission of a SAB for 1994 as soon as possible in order to avoid a counter-productive management of the budget of the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions;

2.Stresses, however, that this estimate with regard to the increase in expenditure requires account to be taken of trends in revenue available and forecasts on a deficit occurring for all payment appropriations required for 1995 (all categories together);

3.Notes that certain administrative budgets, in particular those of new Community bodies (Committee of the Regions),could show increased demand for certain types of expenditure, including buildings; stresses, however, that these demands:

-will be considered in relation to the resources available under heading 5;

-will be subject to the submission of a financial statement which shows their schedule, based on rational proposals and reasonable estimates;

4.Considers it necessary, therefore, to set justified priorities within each Community institution and body in order to enable the budgetary authority to decide on the appropriate arrangements when considering the draft budget for 1995; points out that, on 17 December 1993, its competent committee called on all the Community institutions and bodies to submit their multiannual forecasts for 1995-1999;

5.Points out that the geographical dispersion of the administrative structures of the Community institutions and bodies and the creation of new bodies pursuant to the Treaty on European Union require an assessment of office space needs in order to allow the optimum occupation of buildings; calls, therefore, on the institutions and bodies concerned to submit their plans for occupying and vacating buildings;

6.Confirms the progress made in assessing the operation of the administrative structures by means of the 'screening' which is providing a useful tool for the budgetary authority; reserves the right, therefore, to examine the proposals for the establishment plan and the reorganization of departments within each Community institution and body on the basis of the relevant reports;

7.Draws attention to the efforts made as regards interinstitutional cooperation and calls on the Community institutions and bodies to identify further tasks or administrative activities in this area;

8.Repeats its request for the drawing up of reports on the conditions for recycling different materials, in particular paper, used by the institutions and the request to the Economic and Social Committee for a report on data processing and to the Court of Justice on the drawing up of a feasibility study on the publication of registers of Community law and national decisions relating to Community law;

9.Recalls its resolution on the staff policy of the Community Institutions and in particular the section dealing with parliamentary assistants;

10.Notes that an increase in the global amount available for parliamentary assistants is required;

11.Considers that the negotiations on the enlargement of the European Union should from now on involve the establishment of working hypotheses on the financial impact in the various areas of administrative activity; stresses, nevertheless, that the appropriations for heading 5, administrative expenditure, do not at present cover the effects of any enlargement and draws attention also to the provisions of the current interinstitutional agreement;

12.Takes the opportunity of the prospect of enlargement of the European Union to emphasize that the administrative structures of the Community institutions and bodies must demonstrate reliability and ensure the effectiveness and independence of the European public service;

13.Notes the progress made as regards the strengthening of a harmonized nomenclature and repeats its invitation to continue it in the framework of the 1995 budget;

14.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the institutions and bodies concerned and to the Commission.