A4-0097/96

Resolution on the Commission report on action taken in response to the observations contained in the resolution accompanying the decision giving discharge in respect of the general budget of the European Communities for the 1993 financial year (COM(95)0666)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Article 206 of the Treaty establishing the European Community,

- having regard to its resolution of 5 April 1995 containing the comments which form an integral part of the decision giving discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Communities for the 1993 financial year ((OJ L 141, 24.6.1995, p. 61.)),

- having regard to the Commission report on action taken in response to the observations contained in the resolution accompanying the decision giving discharge in respect of the general budget of the European Communities for the 1993 financial year (COM(95)0666),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4- 0097/96),

1. Notes the information provided by the Commission's periodic and sectorial reports on the implementation of a given financial year's budget; in view of the discharge procedure for that year, asks the Commission to ensure that these reports carry full information on the way Parliament's budget priorities were taken into consideration, with particular reference to implementation of (a) new headings and (b) heading remarks amended by Parliament;

2. Calls on the Commission's Directorate General XIX (Budgets), before forwarding a proposal for a transfer of appropriations to the budgetary authority, to ensure that the various Commission services requesting the transfer fully meet the requirements of Article 26(4), second subparagraph, of the Financial Regulation concerning the quantity and the quality of the relevant information;

3. Notes the Commission's replies on own resources; reserves, however, its opinion insofar as these replies relate to the transit system, in order not to prejudice in any way the outcome of the work of its Committee of Inquiry into the Transit System;

4. Awaits the report to be presented by the Commission on the degree of harmonization actually attained in the establishment of gross national product in the Member States;

5. Notes that the Commission's proposals on future policy in the tobacco sector, to be presented by 1 April 1996, will take account of the option recommended by the Court of Auditors, i.e. to introduce direct income support for tobacco producers;

6. Regrets that no real measures have been taken so far to strengthen the Commission's body of specific officials for control in the wine sector; insists that, while proposals for reform of the sector in question are pending before the Council, the Commission spare no effort to increase the human and financial resources of that body;

7. Expresses its satisfaction at the Danish authorities' declared intention to improve their control procedures with regard to agricultural spending; takes note of the Commission's intention to carry an audit of the measures taken;

8. Asks the Commission to agree henceforth on a precise definition of eligible and non-eligible expenditure in the context of the Structural Funds and to resolve the question of recovery of interest yielded by Commission advances after the three-month period;

9. Reiterates its request to the Commission to provide Parliament with a communication detailing which external consultancy firms have been entrusted with the implementation of each Structural Fund programme and what amount was paid to each such firm in 1993;

10. Urges the Commission to conclude its inquiry into assets which were privatized after having benefited from Structural Fund appropriations;

11. Takes note of certain positive steps taken in the running of the PHARE and TACIS programmes such as closer monitoring of TACIS projects and greater decentralisation of the PHARE programme; insists however that particular emphasis should be placed on

- adequate staffing of all Commission delegations in PHARE and TACIS beneficiary countries,

- better dissemination of results of the TACIS programme,

- how contracts can achieve maximum and sustained benefit in the changing circumstances in the various PHARE and TACIS countries;

12. Awaits the outcome of the review conducted by the Commission concerning the implementation of the rules determining the place of origin of Union officials aiming in particular at preventing abuse;

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