A3-0177/94

Resolution to inform the Commission of the reasons why the discharge cannot at present be given in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Communities for the 1992 financial year

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the revenue and expenditure accounts and the financial statement of the European Communities for the 1992 financial year,

-having regard to the report of the Court of Auditors for the 1992 financial year,

-having regard to the Council recommendation of 21 March 1994 (C3-0147/94),

-having regard to the interim report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A3-0177/94),

A.whereas the Commission has the legal responsibility for the implementation of the budget under Article 205 of the Treaty establishing the European Community,

1.Deplores the Commission decision to overrule its Financial Controller's refusal of approval of a decision amending the decision concerning the clearance of EAGGF-Guarantee accounts for 1989, in respect of milk quotas allocated to one Member State; considers that, in acting in this way, the Commission has undermined the effectiveness of the milk quota system and vindicated disregard of Community legislation;

2.Questions the independence of the Commission within the meaning of the Treaties from outside political pressures in upholding the interests of the Community taxpayer in general and in furthering Community policy objectives; cites as evidence for this the events surrounding the decision in 1992 to impose a substantial financial correction on a Member State for its non-respect of milk quotas under the 1989 clearance of accounts procedure;

3.Is extremely concerned that the conclusions of a Commission internal enquiry into allegations of fraud within its tobacco division dating back to mid-1990 have still never officially been communicated to the European Parliament; asks the Commission to keep Parliament informed of progress in the enquiries which it is conducting with the support of the Italian and Greek authorities into allegations of a cartel in the tobacco sector;

4.Is convinced that the Commission's UCLAF cannot achieve its full potential as an anti-fraud investigative body until it has available the fifty new posts voted for it by the budgetary authority;

5.Reserves its discharge decision until such time as:

(a)the Commission gives evidence that the amounts originally stipulated in the 1989 clearance of accounts Decision 92/491/EEC relating to the application of milk quotas have been paid in full, thereby demonstrating that milk producers and taxpayers in all Community countries have received equal treatment,

(b)the Commission makes available in full the terms of reference and a full report of its internal enquiries concerning allegations of fraud within its tobacco division, and details of the action which has been taken and will be taken,

(c)the Commission gives Parliament a firm commitment to respect the explicit wishes of the budgetary authority by providing 50 new posts to UCLAF;

6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission.