92. Underlines,inthelightoftheslowtake-upofESFfundinginthecurrentprogrammingperiod,and
theproposeddecentralisation,theneedtostrengthenadministrativecapacity,withspecialfocusonthenewMemberStates;
93. ApprovesoftheintegrationofthevaluableexperienceandbestpracticeofCommunityinitiatives
such as Equal into mainstream programming in particular, the principle of transnational cooperationshouldbeemphasised;
94. Declaresitselfinfavouroftheproposalstoenhancepartnershipandcooperationbetweenthelocal,
regional,nationalandEUspheresofgovernmentandtoencourageMemberStatestoutilisethepossibilityofconcludingtripartiteagreementswhereappropriate;askstheCommissiontodevelopharmonisedandbindingrulesandcriteriaforpartnershipassociationanddevelopmentintheframeworkofthe2007-2013StructuralFundsregulations,atthesametimeensuringefficientpartnershipthroughfundingthecostsoftheirparticipation;
95. Pointstotheneedforspecialattentiontoensurethatthestateandregionalauthoritiesconcerned
complywiththeadditionalityprinciple,wherebyCommunityresourcesaretobeaddedtoandnotreplacestateresources,andfortheCommissiontobeprovidedwiththenecessarymeansofsupervision;
96. SupportstheideaofthecreationofaCommunityreserveforrewardingprogress;welcomes,more-
over,thesetting-upofnationalreservesforrespondingtounexpectedsectoralorlocalshocksoncondition
thatthesefundshaverealsubstanceandarenotsimplysymbolicgestures;
97. AskstheCommissiontodrawupforthenextprogrammingperiodproceduresforverifyingaddi-
tionalitythataremoreworkable,thatareintegratedintotheprogramming,monitoringandevaluationframeworksandthataresuitableforusewiththebudgetaryandstatisticalinformationavailable;fur-
thermore,askstheCommissiontodevelopspecificmeasuressuchassanctionsinordertoensurecom-
pliancewiththisprinciple;
*
**
98. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncilandCommission.
P5_TA(2004)0369
Commission’sannualpolicystrategyfor2005
EuropeanParliamentresolutiononthe2005budget:theCommission’sAnnualPolicyStrategy
report(2004/2001(BUD))
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtothecommunicationfromtheCommissiontotheEuropeanParliamentandtheCoun-
cil/dashAnnualPolicyStrategyfor2005(COM(2004)133),
/dash havingregardtotheInterinstitutionalAgreementof6May1999betweentheEuropeanParliament,
theCouncilandtheCommissiononbudgetarydisciplineandimprovementofthebudgetarypro-cedure(
1),
/dash havingregardtoArticle272oftheECTreatyandArticle177oftheEuratomTreaty,
/dash havingregardtothereportoftheCommitteeonBudgetsandtheopinionsoftheothercommittees
concerned(A5-0269/2004),
(1) OJC172,18.6.1999,p.1,AgreementasamendedbyDecision2003/429/EC(OJL147,14.6.2003,p.25).30.4.2004EN C104E/1009 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday22April2004
A. whereas2005willbethefirstfullyearofaEuropeanUnionof25countries,
B. whereasthepoliticalandbudgetaryprioritiesoftheEuropeanUnionfor2005mustrespondtothe
newchallengesofanextendedUnion,andmeettheneedsandconcernsofthecitizensofEurope,whilstatthesametimerespectingbudgetaryrigourandaimingtoachievethebestvalueformoney,
C. whereasthebenefitsofthenewactivity-basedbudgetingapproachshouldbefurtherconsolidatedand
improved,includingincreasedtransparencyandparliamentarycontrolovertheUnion’sexpenditures,
D. whereastheentryintoforceofthenewFinancialRegulationhasprogressedrelativelysmoothly,but
hasledtodecision-makingandimplementationproblemsduetotherigidityofcertainrulesandanapproachoftheadministrationwhichconsistsofnottakingadecision,
E. whereasthetechnicaladjustmentoftheFinancialPerspective(COM(2003)785)willrestrictthemar-
ginofmanoeuvreundersomebudgetaryheadingsandfixtheexpenditureceilingsfortheseatalevelconsiderablylowerthanforeseenintheCommission’sfinancialprogrammingfor2005,
F. whereastheCommission’sAnnualStrategyCommunicationisthefirststepintheprocessofformulat-
ingthepoliticalandbudgetaryprioritiesfor2005,
Generalaspects
1. WelcomestheAnnualPolicyStrategy(APS)asaninstrumentaimingtocombinethebudgetaryand
legislativecycles;underlinesthatithasdecidedtomodifythetraditionalprocedureforestablishingitsbudgetaryprioritiesfor2005(previous‘guidelines’)inordertofurtherreinforcethepoliticalvisibilityoftheseprioritiesand,especially,toensurebettercoherencebetweentheworkoftheinstitutionsbylinkingthisresolutionmoreclearlytotheCommission’sAPSprocedure;
2. DeploresthefactthattheCommissionpostponedthepresentationoftheAPSuntiltheendofFeb-
ruary;expectstheCommissioninfuturetoabidebytheagreedtimetableinordertoallowthebudgetaryauthoritytodealproperlywiththisimportantdocumentforthebudgetaryandlegislativeprocedure;
3. FullysupportsthebudgetaryprovisionsinthedraftConstitution;deploresthesuggestionsbroughtto
theIntergovernmentalConferencebyEcofinthatseverelyunderminethepresentParliament’spowers;con-sidersthatafairandefficientcompromisecouldonlybebasedonthecurrentinterinstitutionalbalanceascodifiedinthedraftConstitutionbytheEuropeanConvention;
4. Pointsoutthat,inthecompactbasedontrust,theCommissionundertooktotakeallnecessary
measurestoensureefficientimplementationofdecisionsadoptedbythebudgetaryauthority;callsontheCommissiontoexplain,before31July2004,howthemanykeyinitiativesarecompatiblewiththesub-sidiarityprincipleandwiththeobjectiveofsimplifyingthe acquisandscalingitdownfrom80000to
25000pages;pointstothesignificanceofdemographicchangeintheUnionforwelfaresystemsand
theeconomy;insiststhattheCommissionmaketheprocessofbringingEuropeanpoliciesintolinewithchangedcircumstancesatasktobecarriedoutacrosstheboard;
5. StronglysupportstheCommission’seffortstoimprovetheactivitystatementsaccompanyingthe
preliminarydraftbudget(PDB)andrecallsthattheseshouldsummariseinaclearandconcisemannertheactionsandinstrumentsforeachareaofthebudget;askstheCommissiontoensurethattheyincludeobjectives andperformance indicatorsthat respect the SmartCriteria (specific, measurable, achievable,relevantandtimed),andinsiststhattheseshouldalsobeincludedforfollow-upintheannualactivityreports;callsontheCommissiontoincludeinallactivitystatementsasummaryoftheCourtofAuditors’findingsandofthedischargeauthority’sconclusions;
6. Takesnoteoftheopinionsofthecommitteesconcernedandwilltaketheseintoaccountinthe
courseofthewholebudgetprocedurefor2005and,inparticular,inParliament’sfirstreading;C104E/1010 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday22April2004
Financialframework
7. StressesthatthetechnicaladjustmentcarriedouteachyearbytheCommissiononthebasisofthe
mostrecenteconomicforecasts,inaccordancewithPoint15oftheInterinstitutionalAgreementof6May1999,resultsinasubstantialreductionoftheceilings,inparticularforheadings3,4and5;
8. Recalls, however, that following the adjustment and the revision of the financial perspective to
financetheneedsofenlargement,anamountofEUR190millionhasbeenaddedtotheceilingofheading3ofthefinancialperspectivefor2005;remindstheCommissionthatpartofthisadditionalamountisintendedtofinancenotonlytheprogrammesundercodecisionwhichhavebeensetupinthecontextofthe2004budgetaryprocedurebutalsotheEuropeanParliament’sprioritiessuchaspilotprojects,prepara-toryactionsandotherannualactivities;
9. Recallsthattheceilinginheading5(administrativeexpenditure)hasbeenfixedatEUR6185million
forthe2005budget;stressesthat,asaresultofthistechnicaladjustmentoftheceiling,therewillbeanegativemargininsteadofthepositivemarginofEUR28,5millionaswasforeseeninthethirdreportbytheSecretaries-GeneralinJuly2003;iswillingtoprovidesufficientmeanstoallowaproperfunctioningoftheinstitutionsoftheenlargedUnionbutconsidersitnecessarytoexaminefurtherpossibilitiesforrepro-gramming,frontloadingandsavings;
10. RecallstheeffortsmadebyParliamentduringthepreviousyearsofthisfinancialperspectiveto
furtherimprovethebudgetaryallocationbetweenpermanenttasksandnewpriorities;remindstheCouncilthatnewneeds,includingIraq,canonlybefundedwithnewresources,otherwisecoreactivitiesoftheUnionwillbeaffected;
11. Isawarethat,asaresultoftheadditionalbudgetaryconstraintscausedbytheadjustmentofthe
ceilingsinheadings3,4and5ofthefinancialperspective,thebudgetaryauthoritymayhavetoreviewthepriorities set out in the Commission’s annual policy strategy; expects the Commission to re-allocatebudgetaryandhumanresourcesinaccordancewiththedecisionsofthebudgetaryauthority;
12. IsconcernedbytheincreasingnumberofcaseswheredecisionsarenottakenbytheCommission
duetorigidrulesinthenewFinancialRegulation;expectstheCommissiontoobservetheapplicationoftheFinancialRegulationcarefullyandtosubmitanevaluationreporttothebudgetaryauthorityby31July2004;
13. RecallstheJointDeclarationonFinancialProgrammingof20July2000(
1);reiterates itsstrong
interestinimprovingthematchingoflegislativeandbudgetaryprocedures;invitestheCommissiontoprovide,foreachproposal,improvedinformationconcerningtheoverallsituationofthefinancialimpactinordertoallowthelegislativeandbudgetaryauthoritiesbettertoassesstheutilityofeachproposal,and
itsfinancialcompatibilitywiththefinancialperspective;
14. NoticesthatinthepresentationofthethreeprioritiesincludedintheAPSfor2005/dashcompetitive-
ness and cohesion, security and European citizenship, and external responsibility: neighbourhood and
partnership/dashtheCommissionissettingsimilarprioritiestothoselaiddowninitscommunicationon
thefinancialframeworkbeyond2006;
BudgetaryHeadings
Agriculture
15. RegretsthatthelargestcategoryoftheUnion’sexpenditurehasreceivedlittlementionintheAPS
document;isawareoftheneedtostrengthenfinanciallyruralareas,thesecondpillarofthecommon
agriculturalpolicyandthefollowingareasinanenlargedEurope:subsidiestoyoungfarmers;thefight
againstanimaldiseases,boostingagriculturalpromotionalmeasuresforadvertisingandmarketingwithintheEUandinthirdcountries,andtheEUschoolmilkprogramme;askstheCommissiontomaintainthepilotprojectonestablishingEuropeanqualitylabels;willassesswhethertheinitiativesandprojectsunder-takeninthe2004budgetcouldbecontinued;
(1) CouncilDocumentNo10299/00,p.8.30.4.2004EN C104E/1011 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday22April2004
Structuraloperations
16. Recallstheimportanceofstructuraloperationsasapartofachievinganeffectivecohesionpolicy
andpromotingsustainablegrowth;notestheimprovedimplementationofstructuralfundpaymentappro-priationsin2003;pointstothepersistentlylargevolumeofoutstandingcommitments/dashEUR60billion/dashwithintheStructuralFundsandtheCohesionFund;askstheCommissiontoinformthebudgetaryauthorityoftheMemberStates’forecaststoenableittoassesstheappropriatelevelofpaymentsfor2005;
Internalpolicies
17. IsworriedbytherecentassessmentbytheCommission,intheprogressreportonimplementingthe
LisbonStrategy,totheeffectthatthestrategy’smid-termobjectivesareunlikelytoberealised;highlightstheneedtoconcentrateitseffortsand,withinthe2005budget,prioritisethekeyLisbonStrategymeasureswithbudgetrelevanceinordertospeeduptheachievementoftheobjectivesset,strengthening,inpar-ticular,socialpartnerinterchangeandimprovingthepositionofworkerswithintheEuropeaneconomyandtheliberalisationprocess;reiteratesitssupportforCommunitymeasurestargetedatSMEsespeciallyinviewofpromotingcompetitivenessinafullyintegratedsinglemarketandinthepursuitoftheLisbonStrategy;urgesthatfinanceandguaranteeinstrumentsforSMEsbefurtherdevelopedandstrengthened;
18. RepeatsitsrequesttotheCommissiontopresent,formacro-financialassistance,alegislativepro-
posalbasedonthecodecisionprocedureandcontaininglegalprovisionsthatwouldenhancetransparencyandaccountability;
19. RequeststheCommissiontoforwardtoParliamentby30August2004atthelatestitsstudyonthe
implementationofBaselII,includinganextendedimpactassessment,asthisimplementationwillpro-foundlyinfluencetheaforementionedinstrumentsforSMEcapital;
20. RecallstheimportanceattachedbyParliamentinpreviousyearstocommunicationandinformation
measuresforEuropeancitizensandisdeeplyconcernedatthewayinwhichinformationpolicyingeneralisbeingimplemented,giventhelackofgenuineprogressinthearea;stressesthattheFinancialRegulationcannotbeinvokedtodeferimplementationofthispolicy,sincethedecisiononthenewFinancialRegu-lationhasbeenknownsinceJune2002;statesthatapplicationofthenewprovisionsproposedbytheCommissionoughtthereforetohavebeenbroughtforwardbythedepartmentsconcerned;
21. ConsidersthatwiththeaccessionoftennewMemberStates,specialattentionmustbepaidto
strengtheningEuropeancitizenshipandtoconsolidatingaEuropeanareaofsecurity,freedomandjustice;statesinparticulartheneedtoreinforcethecommonimmigration/migrationpolicy,andtoacceleratethe
setting-upofSIS(SchengenInformationSystem)IIandtheVisaInformationSystem;expectstheCommis-
siontosubmittoParliamentaproposalforaCouncildecisionestablishingtheVisainformationSystemby31July2004atthelatest;callsontheCommissiontoclarifyitspoliticalapproachonthepreparatoryactiononthefinancialsupportforthereturnofillegalimmigrants,theEuropeanRefugeeFundandthelikelyoverlapswiththeEuropeanSocialFundandtheCommunityinitiativeEqual;willalso,inthelightofthebudgetaryconstraintsunderheading3fortheyears2005and2006,refrainfromanybudgetarydecisionuntilthesequestionsareresolved;
22. Stressesitswilltoincrease,sparingnoefforts,thefightagainstterrorisminanenlargedEUand
wishestomaintainandreinforcetheexistingpilotprojectonaidtovictimsofterroristacts;welcomesthemostrecentCommissioninitiativesinthisfield,aswellastheproposalforadirectiveoncompensationforcrimevictims;pointstothespecialimportanceofcooperationbetweenjudicialandpoliceinvestigation
authorities,inparticularwiththeassistanceofEuropolandEurojust;emphasisesthat,irrespectiveofthe
legalbasesinvolved,Parliamentexpectstobefullyinvolvedinthedecisionsrelatingtothedesignandcontentofsuchproposal;
23. AskstheCommissiontoprovideforthecontinuedsupportofthenon-governmentalorganisations
inthesocialservicesectoraswellasofthesocialpartnersandendingtheirlegalinsecuritybyproposinganewlegalbaseortheirinclusionintheexistinglegalbasesfortheCommunityactionprograms(subsidies);C104E/1012 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday22April2004
24. Emphasisestheneed,followingtheaccessionoftennewMemberStates,toensurethecontinuityof
theLIFEIIIprogrammeandtobridgethegapbetweentheexpiryofLIFEandthenewfinancialperspec-tives;underlines,inthisregard,thatahighprioritymustalsobegiventotheCommissioninitiativesconcerningNatura2000;
25. Istakenabackbythefactthat,afterconsultingtheCouncilonly,theCommissionhaswithdrawnits
proposaltoincreaseTENfundingforborderregionsbyatotalofEUR100million(EUR55millionfor
2005andEUR45millionfor2006);expectstheCommissiontotakeupitsproposalagainandforwardit
throughtheproperchannelstothelegislativeauthority;issurprisedthattheCommissionwantstocarryoutgroundworkforsettingupanewchemicalsagencyalthoughthelegislativeprocesshasnotyetbeenconcluded;
Externalactions
26. Believesthat,inthecontextofconflictpreventionandthedevelopmentofgenuinepartnerships,
inter-cultural,inter-ethnicandinter-religiousdialogueshouldbeintensified;
27. UnderlinesitspositionthattheEuropeanUnionmustmakespecialeffortstoexportpeacetothe
world;thereforeunderscorestheimportanceofeliminatingpovertyasanEUexternalsupportobjectiveofparamountimportanceandtheimportanceofcontinuedpriorityactionsinindividualareassuchasthepromotionanddefenceofhumanrights,healthandeducation,measuresconcerninglandmines,andcon-flictpreventionandresolution;
28. IsespeciallyconcernedatthecurrentsituationinIraqandconsidersthatmeasurestoimprovethe
prospectsforafreeanddemocraticIraqwhicharecarried outasapartofaUNmandate,mustbesupported;isawareofseriousbudgetaryconstraintsand,therefore,intendstoassesscarefullythepossibil-ityofrecoursetotheInterinstitutionalAgreementinstruments;alsopointsoutthatsecurityconcernsandforthcomingelectionsarecrucialissuesinAfghanistanandremainscommittedtosupportingreconstruc-tionanddevelopmentinthiscountry;
29. AgreeswiththeCouncil’scriticismoftheCommission’sapproachtoshapingaNewNeighbour-
hoodPolicyandoftheunclearwayinwhichitisincorporatedintotheEU’sforeignpolicystrategyalong-sidetheEuro-MedprocessandanewinitiativefortheMiddleEast;remindstheCommission,andalsotheCouncil,thatParliamenthasalegislativeandbudgetaryroletoplayinthisprocess;expectsthecommitteesresponsibletobeintensivelyinvolvedinongoingconsultations;ispreparedtouseitsbudgetarypowerstodefenditsinterests;
30. ExpressesitsfundamentalsupportforestablishingaNewNeighbourhoodPolicywhichhelpsto
provideasphereofprosperityandstabilitytothesouthandeastofthecurrentEUborders;emphasises
thatinthecontextofthepartnershipbetweentheEUandtheMediterraneanitisnecessarytostrengthen
allmeasurescontributingtothefulldevelopmentoftheBarcelonaprocess;underlinesthattheseobjectivesmustbeequallypursuedinrelationtotheeasternneighboursoftheEU,withaviewtoestablishingtheNorthernDimension;
31. StressesthattheexternalprioritiesoftheUnionarenotsolelydependentongeographicalproxim-
ity,andthatthestrategiceffortsforcooperationandsolidaritywithotherregionsoftheworldmustbemaintained and strengthened; in this context, emphasises that the bilateral and multilateral relationsbetween the EU and Latin America must be reinforced, especially in the light of the third EU-LatinAmericaSummit;pointstothespecialimportanceoftheEUfortheACPStates,particularlynowthatthepan-AfricanParliamentandAfricanpeacekeepingforcesarebeingestablished;pointstotheconsider-ableimportanceofsuccessfulEuropeanstabilisationeffortsinAsia;
32. InviewofincreasedtransparencyinthefinancingofinternationalorganisationsbytheEUbudget,
requeststhattheCommissioncreateaspecialchapter,underexternalpolicies,onthedifferentEUbudgetcontributionstotheUN,itsagencies,fundsandprogrammes,withoutprejudicetoitsperiodicalcontribu-tiontoUNhumanitarianfundsviatheEUbudgethumanitarianlines,duringthebudgetaryimplemen-tation;30.4.2004EN C104E/1013 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday22April2004
33. Pointsout,inacontextinwhichthesignificanceoftheEUasaglobalpartnermustbestreng-
thened,thatstepsinthedirectionofestablishingacommonEuropeandiplomacyandtowardsthecreationofaEuropeanexternalactionservicewoulddirectlycontributetotheachievementofthisgoal;
34. Intendstoanalysefutureneedsandcurrentimplementationofthecommonforeignandsecurity
policy,takingintoaccountthemajorfinancialincreasegrantedunderthissectionfor2004;willassesstheoutcomeofthenewjointmeetingsestablishedbetweentheParliamentandCouncilfollowingthebudgetconciliationmeetingofNovember2003anddrawthebudgetaryconsequences;
35. RegretsonceagainthattheCommissionhasnotputforwardtheparliamentarydimensionofthe
WorldTradeOrganization(WTO)asoneofitsprioritiesinrelationtoexternalresponsibilityandrecallsthattheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheWTOmustbedevelopedandmadepermanent;urgestheCom-missiontosubmitaconcreteproposaltoParliamentby31July2004atthelatest;
Personnelandadministration
36. NotesthattheCommissionplanstorequest700newenlargement-relatedpostsfor2005;encour-
agestheeffortsbytheCommissiontouseredeploymentwithinandbetweendepartmentstomobiliseadditionalresources;notesthat,asaresultofredeployment,anadditional570postsareestimatedtobecomeavailablein2005toimplementpriorityinitiatives;
37. Willevaluate the Commission’srequest onthe basisofdifferent criteria such asavailability of
candidatesforrecruitment,absorptioncapacityoftheinstitutions,thegeographicalbalanceofposts,thequantitativeandqualitativeimplementationoftheEuropeanParliament’spoliticalpriorities,theprocessofoutsourcingand,also,withinthegeneralcontextofheading5;
38. AskstheCommissiontoprovide,withthePDB,amid-termprogrammingofdecentralisedagencies,
executiveagencies,regulatoryagencies,externalofficeswiththerelatedimpactontheheadingsofthefinancialperspectiveconcerned,inparticularheadings3and5withtheconsequencesandtheuseoffreed resources for the Commission; recalls the Commission’s undertaking to ensure that policy onagenciescomplieswitharigorousbudgetaryapproachandremainssubjecttodemocraticsupervisionbythepoliticalandbudgetaryauthorities;
*
**
39. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncil,theCommissionandtheCourtof
Auditors.
P5_TA(2004)0370
Parliament’spreliminaryestimatesfor2005
EuropeanParliamentresolutionontheestimatesofrevenueandexpenditureofParliamentforthe
financialyear2005(2004/2007(BUD))
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtoArticle272oftheECTreaty,/dash havingregardtotheCouncilRegulation(EC,Euratom)No1605/2002of25June2002ontheFinan-
cialRegulationapplicabletothegeneralbudgetoftheEuropeanCommunities(
1),
/dash havingregardtotheInterinstitutionalAgreementof6May1999betweentheEuropeanParliament,
theCouncilandtheCommissiononbudgetarydisciplineandimprovementofthebudgetarypro-cedure(
2),
(1) OJL248,16.9.2002,p.1.
(2) OJC172,18.6.1999,p.1.AgreementasamendedbyDecision2003/429/EC(OJL147,14.6.2003,p.25).C104E/1014 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday22April2004