Tuesday 4 May 1999C 279/138 EN 1.10.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities
Implementation of the ECSC operating budget
OUTTURN
(all figures in ecus) 31.12.1997 31.12.1996
EXPENDITURE
Administrative expenditure 5 000 000 5 000 000Legal commitments 180 869 553 201 176 900Financing of future operational budgets
274 000 000 0
Total 459 869 553 206 176 900
REVENUE
Levy 101 640 567 95 872 589Fines 00
Interest subsidies 4 168 145 4 336 252Miscellaneous 0 9 397Cancellation of legal commitments 195 235 395 89 966 808Surplus from previous budget 49 131 189 14 623 043Net balance for the year
109 694 257 50 500 000
Total 459 869 553 255 308 089
BUDGET OUTTURN0 49 131 189
RESULT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR
(all figures in ecus) 31.12.1997 31.12.1996
Result from non-budgetary operations after deducting the
net balance allocated to the operating budget 33 476 493 45 110 521Outturn of the budget 0 49 131 189
Total
33 576 493 94 241 710
Allocation to provision for operating budget 0 –73 131 189
Allocation to the Guarantee Fund –31 256 356 –19 000 000
RESULT BEFORE ALLOCATION2 320 137 2 110 521
II.
Resolution on the financial statements of the European Coal and Steel Community at 31 December
1997 and on the 1997 annual report of the Court of Auditors on the ECSC, together with the
Commission’s replies
The European Parliament ,
− having regard to the ECSC financial statements for the 1997 financial year, submitted by the
Commission (1), and in particular the balance sheet and profit and loss accounts of the ECSC at
31 December 1997,
− having regard to the report of the Court of Auditors on the financial statements of the ECSC at
31 December 1997 (2) and the 1997 annual report of the Court of Auditors on the ECSC, together with
the Commission’s replies (C4-0055/99) (3),
− having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4-0132/99),
(1) OJ C 255, 13.8.1998, p. 3.
(2) OJ C 255, 13.8.1998, p. 28.
(3) OJ C 352, 18.11.1998, p. 1.
Tuesday 4 May 19991.10.1999 EN C 279/139 Official Journal of the European Communities
A. whereas the Court of Auditors concludes that the financial statements of the ECSC at 31 December
1997 give an accurate picture of the assets, of the financial situation and of the results of its operationsfor the financial year ending on the same date,
B. whereas the Court of Auditors states that the legality and regularity of the transactions, on the whole,
are adequately guaranteed and proposes a positive statement of assurance,
C. whereas in the run up to the expiry of the Treaty of Paris in the year 2002 as the activities of the ECSC
are steadily being wound down, its solvency ratio reached 28,3 % at the end of 1997, a step closer toits stated target of 100% in 2002, partly due to an increase in the Guarantee Fund and a decrease in thevolume of outstanding loans,
D. whereas preparations are under way to ensure that upon expiry of the Treaty in 2002, the revenue from
outstanding reserves will be used for a research fund for sectors related to the coal and steel industries,
1. Notes the comments of the Court of Auditors and the reply of the Commission and is pleased that the
report of the former contains no criticism and that a positive statement of assurance has been proposed;
2. Observes that as the ECSC approaches its 50 year milestone of 2002, the Commission continues to
manage it in a financially prudent manner, retains experienced staff and devotes adequate resources toensure that quality control is maintained until the end;
3. Notes the statement of the Court of Auditors that the solvency ratio of the ECSC should be monitored
up to and beyond the expiry date of the Treaty of Paris, thereby ensuring that remaining borrowings can beserviced;
4. Understands that the strategy for disposing of ECSC buildings around the world is being
implemented, with the completion of the transfer of the Washington building in 1997 and calls for thetransfer of buildings in Canberra, Lisbon, Windhoek and Milan to be concluded shortly;
5. Considers that issues which were of concern in past years such as lending to Eurotunnel, ECSC
finance to the Danish ‘Great Belt’, compliance with conditions laid down for interest-rate subsidies aimedat job creation and the effectiveness of reporting and monitoring arrangements connected with globalloans, have been addressed in the interim period.
(f) A4-0163/99
I.
Decision giving discharge to the Administrative Board of the European Foundation for the
Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in respect of the implementation of its budget for
the 1997 financial year
The European Parliament ,
− having regard to the EC Treaty and in particular Article 206 thereof,− having regard to the report of the Court of Auditors on the financial statements and management of the
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)for the financial year 1997, and the Foundation’s reply thereto (C4-0054/99) (
1),
− having regard to the Council Recommendation of 11 February 1999 (5913/99 − C4-0149/99),− having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4-0163/99),
A. whereas the Court of Auditors finds that the financial statements for the financial year ended 31
December 1997 are reliable and the underlying transactions are, as a whole, legal and regular,
(1) OJ C 406, 28.12.1998, p. 12.