# CE2004084EN.01014401.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/144 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/144

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(2004/C 84 E/0182)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0074/04

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 January 2004)

Subject:   European Convention

Subject:

Will the Commission please tell me the total cost to the European taxpayer of the European Convention, including staffing costs, travel expenses, translations, stationery, administration, notional cost of office accommodation and any other expenses incurred.

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-4070/03 and P-0074/04

given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2004)

(20 February 2004)

The expenditure involved in managing the first Convention which drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights was essentially made up of interpreting costs for meetings. It was shared between the three institutions associated in drafting the Charter. Accommodation and subsistence expenses for the national representatives were not met by the Community budget.

To finance the Convention which produced the draft Constitution for Europe, a fund was set up by Decision of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council (1).

1

Parliament, the Council and the Commission also concluded an interinstitutional agreement on the financing of this convention (2).

2

The Commission noted, when the accounts of the Convention were referred to it in connection with the discharge, that expenditure for 2002 broke down as follows:

| (in euros) |
| --- |
| Travel of members of the Praesidium | 2 180,52 |
| Accommodation and subsistence allowances | 108 100,00 |
| Remuneration | 194 478,22 |
| Mission expenses | 92 806,17 |
| Representation expenses | 30 538,07 |
| Studies, hearings and forum | 41 943,00 |
| Infrastructure and sundries | 24 294,07 |
| Results of adjustments | 6 052,03 |
| Total | 500 392,08 |

(in euros)

Travel of members of the Praesidium

2 180,52

Accommodation and subsistence allowances

108 100,00

Remuneration

194 478,22

Mission expenses

92 806,17

Representation expenses

30 538,07

Studies, hearings and forum

41 943,00

Infrastructure and sundries

24 294,07

Results of adjustments

6 052,03

Total

500 392,08

The Commission would add that as required by paragraph 7 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on the financing of the Convention (3), the representatives of Parliament were periodically informed of the situation with respect to implementation of expenditure by the Convention Secretariat.

3

In accordance with Article 20 of the Decision of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 21 February 2002 (4), the revenue and expenditure account and balance sheet were also sent to Parliament, which has to give its assent to the granting of discharge to the Secretary-General of the Convention in respect of the implementation of the budget.

4

The Honourable Member is informed that more detailed information can be obtained from the General Secretariat of the Council, which provided the secretariat for the two Conventions.

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(1)  Decision 2002/176/EU of 21 February 2002, OJ L 60, 1.3.2002.

1

(2)  Interinstitutional Agreement of 28 February 2002, OJ C 54, 1.3.2002.

2

(3)  OJ C 54, 1.3.2002.

3

(4)  OJ L 60, 1.3.2002, p. 56.

4

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