A4-0310/96

Resolution on the draft general budget of the European Communities for the financial year 1997 - Section III - Commission

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Article 203 of the EC Treaty, Article 177 of the EAEC Treaty and Article 78 of the ECSC Treaty,

- having regard to the letter from the Commission dated 29 April 1996 informing Parliament that, pursuant to Article 203(9) of the EC Treaty, the maximum rate of increase of non-compulsory expenditure for the 1997 budget is 4.3%,

- having regard to the ceiling on EU own resources fixed in December 1992 (decision of the Edinburgh European Council),

- having regard to the preliminary draft budget submitted by the Commission (COM(96)0300),

- having regard to the draft budget established by the Council on 25 July 1996 (C4-0350/96),

- having regard to its resolution of 28 March 1996 on the guidelines for the 1997 budget procedure - Section III - Commission ((OJ C 117, 22.4.1996, p. 64.)),

- having regard to its resolution of 28 March 1996 on the draft Commission Communication to the Member States on 'Allocation of the reserve for Community Initiatives for the period up to the end of 1999' concerning employment growth and the development of human resources (Employment- Inclusion) and the adaption of the workforce to industrial change (ADAPT) ((OJ C 117, 22.4.1996, p. 75.)),

- having regard to its resolution of 18 April 1996 on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision on the adjustment of the financial perspective to take account of the conditions of implementation (submitted by the Commission pursuant to paragraph 10 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993) ((OJ C 141, 13.5.1996, p. 175.)),

- having regard to the current financial perspective adopted as part of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure,

- having regard to its resolution of 18 July 1996 on the 'ad hoc procedure' for the 1997 budget provided for in Annex II on interinstitutional collaboration in the budgetary sector to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 3.)),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets and the opinions of the other committees concerned (A4-0310/96),

A. whereas the Council's draft budget of 25 July 1996 has been drawn up at a level of 1.160% of GNP, well below the preliminary draft budget figure of 1.204% and far below the ceiling of 1.24% adopted under the Decision on own resources; whereas the Council's draft budget, in accordance with the financial perspective annexed to the Interinstitutional Agreement, agrees funding for the Structural and Cohesion Funds of 8.05% over the 1996 budget in commitment appropriations;

B. whereas 1997 is a key year in the move to further European integration through monetary union, as agreed in the Treaty on European Union,

C. whereas a budget should be adopted that fulfils the expectations of the citizens of the European Union, respects the undertakings in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993, and takes account of the current economic situation,

D. whereas the health of the European economy can only be ensured with high levels of employment, low levels of inflation, and competitive rates of economic growth,

E. whereas the budget of the European Union is an instrument that seeks to contribute to improving the level of employment through its various measures,

F. whereas the EU institutions must make still greater efforts to ensure effective use of existing resources and achieve value for money in the interests of their citizens,

G. whereas the EU needs to be seen to work more effectively, democratically and transparently,

GENERAL REMARKS

1. Reiterates its determination to adopt a 1997 budget which is more closely in keeping with citizens' wishes, which creates jobs, which encourages civil society, and which assists the Member States in their efforts to achieve the convergence criteria laid down by the Treaty on European Union for the completion of economic and monetary union;

2. Observes that the Council's ECU 1 bn cut in Structural Fund payment appropriations does not represent savings but, rather, simply anticipates in accounting terms an expected absence of Community commitments;

3. Notes that, in its first reading decisions on the 1997 budget, it has followed the guidelines set out in its abovementioned resolution of 28 March 1996, and in particular its initial priorities:

- strengthening the measures to encourage job creation and economic and social cohesion by means of investment in infrastructure and research, support for SMEs and the development of human resources, particularly with actions against youth unemployment and continued social exclusion, and measures for refugees;

- increasing the capacity of the EU to improve effectiveness in the management of its external policy, especially by giving the action of the Union in former Yugoslavia a higher profile;

- greater regard for environmental imperatives in the implementation of EU policies pursuant to Article 130r of the EC Treaty;

- respect for equality of treatment of women and men in all major policy areas;

4. Recalls the results of the trialogue of 16 April 1996 which, inter alia, state that an initiative should be taken in the field of refugee policy, taking into account the internal and external aspects; is heartened by the reaction of the Commission to the challenge concerning such an initiative, respecting the idea of shared responsibility between Member States of the European Union;

5. Believes that no adequate funding exists within the current financial perspective for the new policies decided on by the Council since the last revision of the financial perspective, notably for Northern Ireland, the trans-European networks and research and development, and is of the opinion that this situation will be aggravated in 1998 and 1999 unless the Council agrees to a revision of the financial perspective, as the Commission has proposed and Parliament has supported;

6. Notes that the Commission has submitted a letter of amendment 1/97 ((10358/96 - C4-0515/96.)) in accordance with Article 14 of the Financial Regulation, but that the Council has not taken a decision in accordance with Article 14, and decides not to incorporate this letter of amendment at its first reading;

7. Believes that the subject matter of the letter of amendment does not fall within the scope of the exceptional circumstances provided for in Article 14(2) of the Financial Regulation;

8. Reiterates its position that the ad hoc procedure applies to the entire PDB - in the form of either a letter of amendment or a PDSAB - and reserves the right to ask for an ad hoc procedure to be opened when such an act has been referred to it;

9. Has examined the implementation of the current year's budget in deciding on amendments at first reading; notes that conclusions have been drawn from this analysis to tighten control on the use of appropriations; has placed appropriations in reserve and set conditions for releasing such appropriations, in order to improve responsiveness and management in the Commission and to encourage greater coordination between directorates- general;

10. Repeats its request to the Commission to use its powers to withhold appropriations where there has clearly been a blatant misuse of funds in a particular policy area, using the new procedures agreed for implementing budgetary discipline as stated in Article 13 of Council Decision 94/729/EC ((OJ L 293, 12.11.1994, p. 14.));

11. Notes that the Council's draft budget has, as in the past, fixed non- compulsory expenditure above the maximum rate of increase defined in Article 203 of the EC Treaty and that Parliament, in principle, remains ready to find budgetary solutions on the basis of this approach;

12. Regrets, in this respect, the Council's unwillingness to engage in a serious dialogue with Parliament both on priorities not only of Parliament and the Commission, but also of the Council, as well as on other disputed matters, and invites the Council to demonstrate political responsibility and to show more openness in order to establish a more harmonious relationship between the two arms of the budgetary authority, also looking ahead to the Intergovernmental Conference;

THE RESULTS OF THE BUDGETARY CONCILIATION OF 25 JULY 1996

13. Recalls the positive and open discussions at political level which took place at the 25 July 1996 conciliation and namely the agreement to establish a reserve of ECU 62 m for heading 1, thus acknowledging the regular overestimating by the Commission of compulsory expenditure in this heading; urges the Council to extend the political dialogue with the Parliament, to avoid further blockages and misunderstandings;

UNION PRIORITIES

14. Deplores the fact that the ECOFIN Council of 14 October 1996 has killed off the Commission's proposal for a revision of the financial perspective, thus preventing the financing of priorities supported by the Commission, Parliament and several European Councils: Irish peace process, research and networks; recalls that, especially where networks are concerned, the extra funding constitutes the crucial point for the implementation of projects; recalls that the realization of these projects will lead to the creation of a large number of jobs in all the countries of the Union; therefore decides to create a reserve for priorities (B0-411) for these activities;

15. Also confirms its support for the special programme for regions in both parts of Ireland; reminds the Council that Parliament has repeatedly requested, through plenary decision and through its committees, that the supplementary ECU 100 m be found for this programme through revision of the financial perspective; has for that reason voted sufficient funding in reserve to ensure that, in second reading, Parliament can vote ECU 100 m to continue the programme as foreseen; therefore requests the Council to come to an agreement with Parliament before Council's second reading on 19 November 1996;

16. Notes the low level of implementation of this programme in 1996; calls on the Council, the Commission and Parliament's specialized committees to review the duration of the programme and its financing, and, if necessary, to make appropriate proposals;

LEGAL BASES

17. Considers that, once the budget is adopted, the legitimacy thereof cannot be challenged by unilateral actions by one Member State which serve to contest the right and duty of the Commission to implement individual budget headings; also takes the view that actions to reject a contribution from a Member State to specific programmes and initiatives constitute a serious attack on the principle of financial solidarity on which the Community budget is based;

18. Confirms its position stated in its resolution of 12 December 1995 on the Commission's communication to the budgetary authority concerning legal bases and maximum amounts ((OJ C 17, 22.1.1996, p. 27.)) and its budgetary decision that, apart from measures coming within the scope of the Institutions' administrative autonomy, all significant measures must have a legal basis, and that pilot projects and preparatory measures involving more than ECU 10m should be implemented over a period which is sufficiently long to allow the adoption of a legal basis;

19. Endorses application of these stringent principles, pending an agreement with the Council;

CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE

20. Reiterates its position concerning classification of expenditure; has for many years regretted the Council's negative attitude towards classification of expenditure; the fact is that nothing has changed in this connection, notwithstanding the terms of the Court of Justice ruling of 7 December 1995 and the undertaking given by the Council on 20 December 1995; remains firmly of the opinion that the failure to solve this problem seriously undermines the democratic control of expenditure, at both national and European level;

21. Recalls Annex I to its abovementioned resolution of 18 July 1996 giving the breakdown of budget headings in accordance with the 1997 nomenclature; notes that the Council has not responded seriously to the invitation to discuss this annex;

GREENING

22. Approves the decision to pursue the policy of greening and calls on the Commission to submit an environmental statement, on the basis of Article 130r of the Treaty, to accompany all projects of a significant size financed under the items covered by the amendments; the Commission is now invited to set up a Unit for Controlling Environmental Impact for Green Technology (CLIEN), including environmental accounting, with responsibility for establishing a European environment network in close collaboration with national administrations; asks that a review of the environmental protection measures financed from the appropriations against this heading be submitted before Parliament's first reading of the 1998 budget;

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: MAINSTREAMING

23. Recalls the terms of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/93 ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 5.)), Regulation (EEC) No 2084/93 ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 39.)), the Commission communication 'Incorporating Equal Opportunities for Women and Men into All Community Policies and Activities' (COM(96)0067) and the Court of Auditors' Annual Report on the 1991 financial year ((OJ C 330, 15.12.1992.)); resolves that, pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/93, measures financed by the major Union policies shall be in line with Community policy on the application of the principle of equal opportunities for men and women (mainstreaming);

STUDIES

24. Welcomes the initiative in having transferred part of the appropriations intended to finance certain policy support expenditure from specific lines to a general line; invites the Commission to assess the use of this support expenditure and to make more selective use of this facility; instructs its Committee on Budgets to evaluate the efficacy of the measure with a view to the 1998 budget procedure;

HEADING 1

25. Notes the conclusion of the ad hoc procedure on heading 1 (agricultural expenditure), observes that the objectives laid down in paragraph 10 of its resolution of 26 October 1995 on the draft general budget of the European Union for the 1996 financial year - Section III - Commission ((OJ C 308, 20.11.1995, p. 116. )) were not achieved in full but welcomes the fact that the principle of setting up a reserve in heading 1 was recognized;

26. Regrets the fact that it was not possible, in the ad hoc procedure, to make changes to the individual budget headings in heading 1 and that the European Parliament was thus deprived of the opportunity of laying down priorities for the EAGGF Guarantee Section; calls for the individual budget lines in heading 1 to be dealt with in detail at the next budget discussions under the ad hoc procedure;

27. Notes that the funding of expenditure in the beef and veal sector cannot for the time being be finally determined because of the currently incalculable costs of the BSE disease; believes that budget forecasts in the beef and veal sector have not sufficiently taken into account the impact of this crisis;

28. Notes the outcome of budgetary conciliation on 25 July 1996 with regard to agricultural expenditure and endorses the decision to close the ad hoc procedure; notes nonetheless that there will still be progress to be made and that the Council has not agreed, on this issue, to a genuine dialogue on the basis of market developments;

29. Points out that, when submitting any letter of amendment, the Commission must comply with the provisions of Article 14 of the Financial Regulation and take account of the legislative authority's new data in order to permit genuine negotiation between the two arms of the budgetary authority, possibly as part of a fresh ad hoc procedure;

HEADING 2

30. Expresses full support for the actions of the Structural Funds in assisting economic development in the poorer regions of Europe, those regions with the highest levels of unemployment and those that are in industrial decline; underlines once more its commitment to the results of the negotiations at the Edinburgh European Council on the funding of the Structural and Cohesion Funds and of the Community initiatives and the relevant legal bases; nevertheless restates its continuing concern at the weak delivery systems in certain Member States; deplores the low implementation rate of these funds by the Member States with the highest per capita incomes; calls therefore on the Commission to continue to introduce better transparency into the implementation of the Structural Funds and more detailed observance of the environmental objectives; instructs its competent committees to examine this and propose a system to remedy this problem of low implementation levels;

31. Calls on the Commission, should the payment appropriations proposed for the Structural Funds by the Commission in the preliminary draft budget be reduced, to adopt appropriate measures, when it implements the 1997 budget, to ensure that any such reduction does not prejudice fulfilment of the objectives of the policy of economic and social cohesion and to take into account, in particular, the needs of Member States which are fulfilling their structural programmes;

32. Agrees with the decision to increase the allocations for the Community initiatives Retex and Rechar as indicated in its abovementioned resolution of 28 March 1996, thus respecting the Council's agreement on a limited revision of the financial perspective of November 1994;

Enlargement preparations

33. Requests the Commission, in its subsequent communications on enlargement, to examine proposals for a programme of infrastructure measures in states with which the Union is to enter into accession negotiations where funding is provided both by Member States and applicants;

HEADING 3

34. Welcomes the fact that, this year, the amendments adopted to heading 3 make it possible to concentrate resources, through genuine redeployment of appropriations, on the priorities indicated by Parliament;

Research and technological development

35. Is concerned that the Union's research efforts should not be disrupted in the preparations for the Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development; considers that the Council has not abided by the spirit of the codecision establishing the Fourth Framework Programme by not taking further the proposal for the supplement that is now before it; recalls that the supplementary financing was a priority in the revision of the financial perspective proposals of the Commission and those of Parliament, and expects the codecision procedure to be concluded favourably;

36. Agrees with the decision to ensure greater transparency in managing research staff; asks the Commission to submit proposals to avoid duplication with other Commission departments so as to return to a situation that conforms with the terms of the Financial Regulation;

Social policy

37. Firmly rejects the Council's decision to cut and, in some cases, block social expenditure; cautions that this attitude will only increase public mistrust of and disappointment in the EU; believes that the work done by associations and NGOs in the social field cofinanced by the EU budget contributes to the development of a fair and equitable European society;

38. Confirms its support for measures that address the weaknesses in the European economy by encouraging Europe-wide solutions in the area of education and training; welcomes the decision to vote ECU 25 m for measures to aid job-creation through support for low interest loans to small businesses creating jobs and to allocate ECU 10 m for an initiative exploring and enhancing the employment potential of the 'third system'; regrets that, in the argument on legal bases, members of the Council have attacked European measures for the most deprived and socially excluded sectors;

39. Welcomes the initiative to set up special measures for combating violence against children, adolescents and women at a European level, relating to the prevention of and protection against all kinds of violence, or sexual exploitation, trafficking and other abuse;

Networks

40. Confirms its utmost attachment to sustainable establishment of the large transfrontier networks, which will constitute a step forward, in the future, in the process of building the internal market and a more integrated Europe;

41. Notes that the legal bases for the transfrontier networks have been adopted, but that, without cofinancing from national budgets, such acts remain incomplete; continues to be concerned at the fact that the Member States are prepared neither to abide by their undertakings to revise the financial perspective nor to earmark the necessary appropriations in national budgets to enable genuine transfrontier networks to be established;

Energy

42. Has lost patience with the irresponsible attitude exhibited by the Council in its first reading votes on heading 3; has therefore decided to enter in the reserve about 30% of funding for items in this sector until the issue of legal bases is resolved, and looks forward to the conclusions of the IGC clarifying the Union's competences in this sector;

43. Confirms its interest in the increased use of renewable energy sources;

Internal market

44. Believes that the new nomenclature for Title B5-3, Internal market, meets requirements of greater comprehensibility for what is a Union priority; notes that the various headings have been combined to form four extensive chapters, thus enhancing both the title, which is more appropriate, and each line, which is better identified within a new chapter;

Agencies

45. Welcomes the Commission's report on the harmonization of the financial regulations of the agencies and asks the Commission to take the necessary initiatives without delay for modification of the financial regulations of the agencies concerned, which should include the aspects of a harmonized system of financial control and of individual discharge procedures; instructs its Committee on Budgets to examine the budget implications of the agencies' buildings policies and of their tax status;

46. Underlines its conviction that revenues collected by European institutions and agencies are own resources of the Union without regard to their re-use; reminds the Commission of its undertaking, given in January 1995, to submit a report to the budgetary authority on the budgetization of such revenues in 1996;

Small and medium-sized enterprises

47. Wishes to stress its attachment to an active policy in favour of SMEs which generate employment and to emphasize that their effective involvement in Community policies and activities presupposes appropriate coordination to ensure the development of synergies between the various Community programmes; considers therefore that it is necessary, on the basis of respect for the cost/effectiveness criteria and notably the assessment report on DG XXIII, to pursue the administrative restructuring measures;

Information

48. Welcomes the efforts to rationalize and make coherent the information policy of the European Union, to encourage the development of an interinstitutional system, and to ensure that a Europe House in each Member State becomes a reality by the year 2000; recognizes that further major efforts need to be made to bring together different services covering the evaluation, presentation and dissemination of information across all major media;

49. Calls, nevertheless, on the Commission to appreciate the urgency of restructuring in order to institute a real dialogue between the European institutions and citizens; therefore places 50% of the appropriations to be allocated for general information policy in the reserve, to be released once the Commission has brought forward specific proposals to adjust structures to ensure better cost-effectiveness in the short and medium term, and after these measures have been approved by the interinstitutional consultative working group on information policy;

50. Draws attention to its decision to highlight the three major information campaigns: Euro, Citizens First, and Building Europe Together; notes the progress made in the first two and the special impact of the Euro campaign three years before the beginning of EMU; endorses the decision to allocate funding to enhance awareness of consumers' rights in the internal market in relation to the Citizens First campaign; is concerned at the lack of specific proposals for the Building Europe Together campaign and places ECU 15 m in a general information campaign reserve, pending further precise proposals to be made to the interinstitutional consultative working group on information policy;

Euronews

51. Notes the decision to place in the reserve the 1997 funding for Euronews despite the earlier commitment to limit funding to the period 1994 to 1996 inclusive; requests that a report be submitted to the budgetary authority before its second reading on the activities of Euronews, its costs and its impact, in the light of which decisions may be made on the transfer of financing for Euronews in 1997;

HEADING 4

52. Recalls its decision contained in its resolution of 19 September 1996 on the political situation in Turkey ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 6.)), which should be followed as regards implementation of the MEDA programme, in the light of respect for human rights and other democratic conditions in participating states;

53. Takes note of the statement by the Commission concerning projects to assist Turkey under the MEDA programme; recalls its decision not to support the funding of projects in Turkey, except for humanitarian purposes and in support of civil society; insists that the Commission present the programmes that it intends to implement to the European Parliament, which must give its approval before implementation;

54. Welcomes the measures taken under SAB 1/96 and the 1997 draft budget to permit major regional programmes such as PHARE, TACIS and MEDA to be subjected to more direct control and more effective implementation of European public funds; requests the Commission to submit an evaluation of these new structures during the 1998 budget procedure;

55. Welcomes the decision to preallocate appropriations for Tibetan refugees, actions undertaken by NGOs campaigning for the defence of human rights in Tibet and the promotion of information for Tibetans;

56. Insists that a separate chapter be retained for the CFSP and that the Council comply with the Treaty on European Union with respect to the financing of joint actions; reiterates its demand for an Interinstitutional Agreement for the CFSP on the basis of full assignment of the implementation of joint actions to the Commission; confirms its decision to reduce the funding in the reserve for the CFSP;

57. Confirms its support for a European development policy which has proved its value over time and in respect of which the European Parliament has been an essential initiator both in budgetary terms and in relation to the creation and evaluation of such policy;

58. Approves the decisions that appropriations adopted for Chapter B7-3, Cooperation with the countries of Latin America and Asia, should reflect in financial terms the interest aroused by the Communication on new guidelines for cooperation with the countries of Asia and Latin America and the Communication entitled 'The European Union and Latin America: the present situation and prospects for closer partnership 1996-2000', which envisage an increase in cooperation with these regions; recalls once again the need indicated by the Edinburgh European Council to achieve an equilibrium in the Community's external actions;

59. Asks the Commission to find appropriate ways within the current budget structure to contribute to the reconstruction efforts in Chechnya;

Former Yugoslavia

60. Underlines its commitment to provide a substantial financial contribution to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the republics of the former Yugoslavia in 1997 and in subsequent years;

61. Introduces a revised budgetary structure for the financing of such measures which is based on its initiatives in the 1996 budget and identifies more clearly the enhanced financial contribution by the EU, including financial support for the International Tribunal for War Crimes in former Yugoslavia in The Hague; urges the Commission to implement funds both more flexibly and more coherently in order to improve the efficiency of its activities;

Anti-personnel mines

62. Requests the Commission to present to the budgetary authority, before 31 May 1997, a report on the application of the programme for the clearance of anti-personnel mines;

Fisheries

63. Notes with satisfaction that the support measures for fisheries (B7-800) will become more transparent through subdivision and welcomes the Council's agreement to the new structure for the items for international agreements, financial protocols and contributions for fisheries organizations;

64. Undertakes to examine Commission proposals submitted under the end-of-year global transfer of appropriations (Notenboom procedure), to transfer additional funds, should the allocation provided for under this heading (B7- 800) prove insufficient; this should be intended to cover the expenditure arising from the fisheries agreements and the protocols thereto finally adopted and signed by the European Union with third countries, provided that the Commission has respected the terms of the code of conduct on the improvement of budgetary information on international fisheries agreements, as proposed by Parliament and provided that Parliament has given its formal opinion on these agreements and protocols;

HEADING 5 - Actions to improve management and implementation

65. Notes that its decision observes the budget guidelines in not creating new posts in 1997, apart from those already agreed for enlargement; considers it essential to take account of what is needed for the reorganization of DG X and DG XXIII; calls for augmenting of DG XI (CLIEN), DG XIX (CONTREX) and the Anti-Fraud Unit, for work on the PHARE and TACIS programmes, and the task force for the third pillar, with a view to preparing enlargement; these points should guide the allocation of TCEs, enlargement posts and turnover, as well as internal redeployment;

Interinstitutional Cooperation

66. Acknowledges the need for information to be given to all European citizens - irrespective of their location, in an exhaustive fashion and on-line - on the European Union's goals, on the policies pursued and to be implemented and on the institutions via advanced communications facilities; has created the appropriate budget heading in this connection: Article 284, Advanced telecommunications systems; takes the view, however, that this activity should be developed on the basis of synergy between the European Parliament and the Commission; therefore intends to develop this activity together with the Commission, in the context of interinstitutional cooperation; calls on the Commission to submit a report to the budgetary authority by 31 March 1997 on the implementing arrangements for it, together with an exhaustive financial statement;

Pensions

67. Acknowledges that the pension contributions of Community officials in the past have not been placed in a fund, but have been used to finance routine administrative costs; creates the budget structure that could accommodate a properly functioning pension fund for officials of the Union, so as to take better account of the interests of past, present and future officials and to reduce the pension burden for future Union budgets which would be caused by the continuation of the 'pay-as-you-go' system;

Community subsidies

68. Agrees with the decision to place in the reserve part of the salaries of the Commissioners (A-100) with the request that the budgetary authority be informed before the second reading of the 1997 budget of the measures taken to reorganize specific Commission services;

69. Agrees with the decision to allocate 150 'conversions of appropriations into posts' (TCE) to reduce the rate of dependence of various DGs on external personnel on the basis of objectives set at the screening evaluation in 1992; requests a re-evaluation of the objectives and requirements for coming years, in order to develop a staff policy to enhance the credibility and the role of the Commission within a flexible structure; asks the Commission to present a report by 31 May 1997 on how an annual assessment of its real staffing needs can be done on a regular basis;

70. Stresses that the modification of the nomenclature for Chapter A-30, started in 1996, should continue by creating greater transparency of the existing items and the subsidies they cover; notes the additional need for funding in preparation for the European Union's participation in the Lisbon World Expo in 1998; instructs its Committee on Budgets to continue to examine the nomenclature of this chapter and certain lines in the operational budget, and their remarks, and to present a report on it before 31 May 1997;

71. Welcomes the first steps towards restructuring designed to make the Community administration more effective and flexible and its buildings policy more coherent, and will continue to take measures to encourage this;

Commitology

72. Takes note of the Commission's undertakings concerning commitology, which followed Parliament's negotiations with the Council and Commission; recalls the terms which provide, besides matters already agreed, that:

(a) in order to keep the European Parliament informed of the work of the executive committees, the Commission shall make available to Parliament, in good time in advance of committee discussions, the annotated agendas for each meeting of management and regulatory committees;

(b) the Commission shall make available to Parliament the results of votes in management and regulatory committees (votes for and against and abstentions);

(c) the Commission will require all members of management and regulatory committees, other than public service officials, to sign, on appointment, a declaration that there is no conflict between their membership of the committee concerned and their personal interests; in the event of such conflict arising during the work of the committee, they will inform the chairman of the committee and will not participate in the discussion on the issue; the chairman of the committee will point out that this obligation applies to all members;

(d) if Parliament or a parliamentary committee wishes to attend the discussion on certain items on the agenda of a committee, the chairman will put the request to the committee, which may take a decision; if the committee does not accept the request, the chairman must give reasons for the decision; Parliament may wish to publicize such reasons;

73. Instructs its committees to take account of this new agreement, so as to follow closely the activities of the executive committees in their sectors; instructs its Rules Committee to consider any effects this new agreement might have on its Rules of Procedure;

74. Resolves that it will return to this matter after it has taken cognizance of the outcome of the Intergovernmental Conference concerning transparency and openness, and in the meantime will take it up with the Council;

Delegations

75. Calls for closer surveillance of the resources invested in third countries, not least by revising the management of Union delegations, and places ECU 15 m in the reserve for the external delegations, which will be released once further redeployment has been undertaken, with a view to maximizing the total number of delegations at 120 world-wide, to concentrating further human resources in regions where the EU concentrates its political and financial efforts, and to pursuing the establishment of a coherent external service where recruitment is geared to the real needs of such work, where appointment to delegations is made according to the needs of the Union, and where mobility between headquarters and the delegations is ensured over a nine-year period;

OTHER ISSUES

Re-use

76. Reminds the Commission to exploit opportunities for own revenues and re-use on a broader scale; notes the large number of activities for which the Commission could ask for financial contributions from beneficiaries or recipients;

77. Asks the Committee on Budgets to indicate the budget lines on which the Commission should present a proposal for a legal base in its annual work programme, taking account of its vote at first reading;

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