EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 348/50

Thursday 25 February 2010

Amending Parliament’s estimates for the 2010 budget

P7_TA(2010)0038

European Parliament resolution of 25 February 2010 on the estimates of revenue and expenditure for Amending Budget 1/2010 (Section I, European Parliament) (2010/2014(BUD))

2010/C 348 E/07

The European Parliament,

having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and in particular Article 314 thereof,

having regard to Council Decision 2007/436/EC, Euratom of 7 June 2007 on the system of the European Communities’ own resources (1),

having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (2),

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 (3) (IIA), and in particular the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) provided for in Part I thereof and set out in Annex I thereto,

having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2010,

having regard to the Secretary-General’s report to the Bureau on drawing up the preliminary draft estimates for a 2010 amending budget,

having regard to the preliminary draft estimates for such an amending budget drawn up by the Bureau on 14 December 2009 pursuant to Rules 23(6) and 79(1) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure,

having regard to the draft estimates drawn up by the Committee on Budgets on 27 January 2009 pursuant to Rule 79(2) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure,

having regard to Rule 79 of its Rules of Procedure,

having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A7-0017/2010),

A. whereas it was agreed, during the 2010 budget procedure, that any expenditure related specifically to the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community would be dealt with, if necessary, through existing budgetary instruments, such as an amending budget, after the adoption of the original 2010 budget,

B. whereas it was emphasised that, in such a case and to the fullest possible extent, reorganisation of existing resources should be fully examined before any call for additional resources was made,

C. whereas it was particularly stressed that the adopted original level of its budget amounting to 19.87 % of the authorised expenditure under heading 5 (administrative appropriations) of the MFF did not include any possible adaptations in the light of the Treaty of Lisbon, particularly in the legislative area,

D. whereas, at the same time, it was acknowledged that, due to the limited margins available, further savings and redeployment would be required to enable additional requirements to be fulfilled,

1. Welcomes the Bureau’s proposal for a 2010 amending budget concerning the European Parliament’s budget (Section I of the Union’s general budget) and recalls that this is fully in line with the agreement that any additional needs following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon would be dealt with separately through existing budgetary instruments;

2. Emphasises legislative excellence as Parliament’s priority and the need to provide the Members, committees and political groups with the necessary means to achieve it; agrees with the general direction of the Bureau’s proposal and the focus for reinforcements proposed; considers, furthermore, that the general magnitude of the proposal is justified given the justifications provided and the new challenges ahead;

3. In view of the multiannual financial impact to be expected of these and possible other Lisbon-Treaty-related proposals, calls for an evaluation of the use of secretarial assistance allowances;

4. Notes that the overall level of the budget as proposed by the Bureau would amount to EUR 1 620 760 399, representing 20.04 % of the original heading 5; notes, given the context set out above and the total volume of the budget, that the long-standing self-imposed limit of 20 % has been surpassed by 0.04 percentage points or EUR 3.2 million in the Bureau’s proposal;

5. Considers that the overall reference for its budget should continue to be the original multiannual programming of the MFF in order to ensure that its interests are safeguarded while, at the same time, maintaining budgetary discipline;

6. Considers that the current 20 % basis for heading 5 is now more restrictive compared to the previous situation as it will have to cover expenditure not foreseen in the self-imposed declaration of 1988; recalls that since 2006 Parliament has included expenditure such as the Members’ Statute (generating savings for Member States), the Assistants’ Statute, expenditure related to its new role following the Lisbon Treaty and also an expanded buildings policy to accommodate its overall needs, including enlargements;

7. Considers that, on the basis of the original MFF references, negotiated in 2006 and in force since 2007, its expenditure should remain within the traditional 20 % limit, as an indicative reference;

8. Considers that, on a total volume of over EUR 1 600 000 000, it should be possible to keep within 20 % (i.e. arrive at 19.99 %) while fully respecting the additional needs set out in the Bureau’s proposal; notes that this would mean a reduction to the overall budget of an amount of EUR 4 million;

9. Decides to make such an adjustment, without touching the elements contained in the Bureau’s proposal, by reducing the buildings reserve from EUR 15 million to EUR 11 million; notes that this will take the overall level of the budget to EUR 1 616 760 399, representing 19.99 % of heading 5; insists on the need for long-term planning of its building policy;

10. Highlights that actions aiming to secure budgetary sustainability in future years should be undertaken; reaffirms the importance of the elaboration of a zero-based budget policy that will ensure further rigour and transparency; appeals for clear information, as soon as possible, on the overall amount of fixed expenditure within Parliament’s budget, as referred to in the European Parliament resolution of 22 October 2009 on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2010 (4);

11. Adopts the estimates for Amending Budget No 1/2010;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution and the estimates to the Council and Commission.

(1) OJ L 163, 23.6.2007, p. 17.

(2) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

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

(4) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2009)0052.