A4-0086/95

Resolution on the modifications made by the Council to Parliament's amendments to draft supplementary and amending budget No 1/95, Section III - Commission (C4-0138/95)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Treaty on European Union,

- having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure ((OJ C 331, 7.12.1993, p. 1.)),

- having regard to its resolutions of 27 October 1994 ((OJ C 323, 21.11.1994, p. 125.)) and 15 December 1994 ((OJ C 18, 23.1.1995, p. 145.)) on the draft general budget of the European Communities for the financial year 1995,

- having regard to the amendments to draft supplementary and amending budget No 1/95 adopted at first reading on 6 April 1995 ((Annex to Minutes of that Sitting.)),

- having regard to draft supplementary and amending budget No 1/95 as presented following the Council's second reading of 10 April 1995 (C4- 0138/95),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0086/95),

A. whereas the Council rejected, without giving any specific reasons, several amendments tabled by Parliament at first reading,

B. whereas PDSAB 1/95 proposed by the Commission has not called into question Parliament's position on the classification of expenditure,

C. whereas SAB 1/95 transfers appropriations already entered in the budget adopted on 15 December 1994 to the operating lines to allow the full integration of the new countries of the European Union; whereas the maximum rate of increase of NCE is lower than for the commitment and payment appropriations voted on 15 December 1994,

1. Points out that at first reading Parliament complied with the provisions of the Treaty, the Financial Regulation and the Financial Perspective as revised and adopted on 13 December 1994 in the spirit of cooperation required by the two arms of the budgetary authority;

2. Notes that after the vote on the amendments to the draft budget, the margins in respect of the ceilings for various categories of expenditure, in accordance with paragraph 19 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993, are as follows: category 1: ECU 1047 million, category 2: ECU 0, category 3: ECU 5.1 million, category 4: ECU 22.4 million, category 5: ECU 22.7 million;

3. Regrets that in subsection B1 the Council has departed from the Commission proposals set out in the PDSAB and has refused to open the ad hoc procedure, requested by Parliament, in breach of the IIA of 29 October 1993; considers that these three 'modifications' by the Council interfere with the action brought by the Council against the European Parliament on 21 February 1995, thereby obstructing the proceedings of the Court of Justice;

4. Approves, in these circumstances, maintaining at second reading amendments reinstating the PDSAB regarded by the Council as 'modifications'; with respect to the other headings in subsection B1, approves the Commission's estimates and considers that the approval of these amounts in no way alters Parliament's position on classification, as adopted in the vote in December 1994;

5. Approves the decision to retable at second reading all the amendments rejected by the Council, with the exception of the first reading amendment to line B7-5202 for which the Council's draft is acceptable;

6. Welcomes the Council's adoption of all the amendments to category 5 of the financial perspective;

7. Instructs its President to forward these budgetary decisions to the Commission and the Council.