WRITTEN QUESTION E-0942/03 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Political debate on the future funding of the Union.
Date: 2003-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: budget policy, financing of the EU budget, own resources, powers of the institutions (EU)

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/95

The Commission has received no official information on the case raised by the Honourable Member but
will follow it and, if appropriate, will remind the Government of Seychelles of its commitments as a
signatory of the Cotonou Agreement.

(2004/C 33 E/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0942/03

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Political debate on the future funding of the Union

(26 March 2003)

Before 1 January 2006, the Commission is to undertake a general review of the own-resources system,
although it has already given Parliament an undertaking that this review will be completed by the end of
2004; it will include the issue of creating fresh own-resources.

The Commission is right in thinking that there should be a political debate on the major options for the
Union’s future funding; what criteria should be used for proceeding to open this debate?

What does the Commission believe is the most appropriate procedure, and who should be responsible for
taking the initiative?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 2003)

the Council Decision 2000/597/EC, Euratom of 29 September 2000 (1),

the
Following article 9 of
Commission shall undertake, before 1 January 2006, a general review of the own resources system. On
request of the Parliament, the Commission committed itself to present its review by the end of 2004. As
far as possible, the Commission is striving to produce its review even earlier, bearing in mind that the new
Own Resources Decision actually came into force only on 1 January 2002.

The Commission recently agreed on a timetable and internal organisation arrangements in view of
completing the necessary preparatory work for the Union financial framework beyond 2006. In this
regard, the Commission intends to present a Communication to the European Council in December 2003
containing broad orientations for the financial framework, including the own resources system. In a second
stage, the Commission intends to be ready by mid-2004 in view of presenting, as appropriate, related
legislative proposals.

The Convention is also addressing the issue of the Union’s finances. The Commission actively contributes
to the discussion in the Convention. In its Communication of 4 December 2002 (2), the Commission
encouraged the Convention to examine the funding of the Union’s action and more recently it tabled
proposals as regards the relevant articles on Union finances to the Convention.

(1) OJ L 253, 7.10.2000.
(2) COM(2002) 728 final: For the European Union (cid:1) Peace, Freedom, Solidarity.

(2004/C 33 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0977/03

by Carles-Alfred Gasòliba i Böhm (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Delay of the Figueres-Perpignan high-speed rail link

(27 March 2003)

The Commission has recently devoted considerably energy to the basic issues of liberalising the rail sector
and revitalising the use of rail transport. Directive 2001/12/EC (1) is designed, inter alia, to ensure further
progress towards an internal rail transport market throughout the EU.