A3-0069/94

Resolution on the budgetary and financial implementation of the European Year of Tourism

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its resolution of 22 January 1988 on facilitation, promotion and funding of tourism in the European Community,

-having regard to Council decision 89/46 of 21 December 1988,

-having regard to Special Report No. 4/92 of the Court of Auditors,

-having regard to the rapporteur's questionnaire to the Commission and the Commission's replies (PE 207.370),

-having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A3-0069/94),

A.whereas the European Year of Tourism has revealed a number of practical problems, and whereas the Community should build on the experience acquired when organizing similar operations in future,

1.Stresses that the 'European Years' formula may be a very effective instrument, adapted to meet the requirements of subsidiarity, for assessing the options for future Community measures, for trying out methods of cooperation with a variety of partners and for making the most of the European aspects of a particular economic sector or social activity;

2.Hopes that, when the competent Community institutions decide to allocate appropriations to a European Year, the objectives and implementing procedures will be defined in the light of the financial and administrative resources available at the various implementing and operational levels;

3.Stresses that the preparatory stage determines the success of such an operation and that it must be used to define objectives, set up a team, make the national authorities taking part aware of the programme and provide them with information, and where necessary seek sponsorship;

4.Recommends that the Commission set up a specific 'European Years' department responsible for organizing teams of established staff and national experts and providing back-up services;

5.Calls on the Commission to be scrupulous in its compliance with the provisions of the Financial Regulation on the prior commitment of appropriations, the award of contracts and the allocation of subsidies;

6.Calls on the Commission to use an outside consultant only under conditions of absolute transparency, and only when the team responsible for preparing the operation has defined the objectives of, and practical arrangements for, the consultant's work;

7.Notes the steps taken by the Commission to protect the Community's financial interests in the case of failure to provide services paid for out of Community appropriations;

8.Notes the continuing investigation by the Commission's financial control service into the European Year of Tourism, the removal of the former director of the Tourism Service, who has offered further information to the European Parliament on the Year, the fact that the Court of Auditors has not investigated allegations relating to activities of Commission agents in the management of the Year, and the new budgetary control powers vested in the European Parliament by Article 138c of the EC Treaty; proposes that the incoming Parliament should consider further the management of the European Year of Tourism in particular and the use of agents in general;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Court of Auditors.