EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 212/3

Wednesday 6 May 2009

Amendment of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006

P6_TA(2009)0354

European Parliament resolution of 6 May 2009 on the amended proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management as regards the multiannual financial framework (2007-2013) (COM(2009)0171 – C6-0508/2008 – 2008/2332(ACI))

2010/C 212 E/02

The European Parliament,

having regard to the amended Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2009)0171),

having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (1) (IIA of 17 May 2006), and in particular to Points 21, 22 and 23 thereof,

having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2009 on the Mid-term Review of the 2007-2013 Financial Framework (2) and of 10 March 2009 on Guidelines for the 2010 budget procedure (3) ,

having regard to the Conclusions of the Trialogue held on 2 April 2009,

having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A6-0278/2009),

1. Approves the conclusions of the Trialogue of 2 April 2009;

2. Stresses that the agreement reached on the revision of the multiannual financial framework is the result of successful interinstitutional cooperation in responding to the financial and economic crisis that Member States are experiencing, through the promotion of solidarity in the energy resources field and the promotion of broadband in rural areas as well as the support to the agriculture sector;

3. Recalls that with this agreement the Parliament, in its double capacity of legislative and budgetary authority, has protected its existing priorities, as it did during the 2008 budgetary procedure when an agreement on Galileo financing was reached;

4. Agrees to the political compromise which provides for a compensation mechanism planned for the 2010 budgetary procedure, as well as - but only if necessary - for the 2011 budgetary procedure; recalls that, as stated in the Joint Declaration adopted by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission during Trilogue on 2 April 2009, the compensation mechanism will be without prejudice to the financial envelopes of the co-decided programmes and the annual budgetary procedure and will be financed by using all budgetary means available in the budgetary legal framework;

5. Reiterates that deficits and leftovers are still unresolved from the outcome of the negotiations of the IIA of 17 May 2006 and that these deficits should be addressed in the 2008-2009 mid-term review, as provided for in Declaration 3 of the IIA of 17 May 2006, as well as in the course of the annual budgetary procedures, if possible through more flexibility and in any case by all means foreseen by the IIA of 17 May 2006; recalls, as stated by Parliament in its unilateral declaration during Trilogue on 2 April 2009, that the Commission should take on board during the mid-term review process the principles laid down in its resolution adopted on 25 March 2009;

6. Cautions against the regular use of margins under heading 2 to finance other headings, since this could jeopardise the interests of the agricultural sector, in light of unexpected decreases in market prices;

7. Regrets that the agreement with the Council was reached only two months before the end of parliamentary term, leaving less space for the negotiations, and regrets that this put the institutions under pressure, even if in the usual climate of loyal cooperation;

8. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

9. Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

10 Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.

(1) OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.

(2) Texts adopted, P6_TA(2009)0174.

(3) Texts adopted, P6_TA(2009)0095 and 0096.