Key, Brian M.

Archive of European Integration

European CommunitiesEUROPEAN PARLIAMENTWbrking Documents1983- 19840ctober 19E3 DCOUTIENT 1-E1?IE3Reportdrawn up on beha[f of the Committee on Budgetary Controlon action taken on the discharge decision ìn respect ofthe 19EU financiat yearRapporteur: ltlr Brian M. KEyinglish EditionPE 85 .91'l I f in.Pursuant to Articte E5 of the Financial Regulation, the Commissionsubmitted to Partiament the finaL report on the action taken onthe discharge in respect of the 1980 financiat year.The appointment of filr. Key, rho had already been rapporteur on the19E0 discharge, uas confirmed on 13 Juty 19E3.The Committee considered thts document and the draft report atits meetings of 13 JuLy and ?61?7/2E September 19E3.At the latter meeting the Committee adopted the draft reportunan i mous ty.The report r,as deposited on 4 0ctober 1983.The fol.torring took part in the vote:- lrtr. Aigner, chairman; ttlr.Treacy, vice-chairman; [tlr. Key, rapporteur; ttlr. Battersby,Mr. Enright (deputising for ltlr. Boyes); Mr. Gabert; trtr. lrmerand Mr. Schiin.-3- PE 85.9111f in.gquEu§TIOTTOI{ IOR A RESOLUTIONEXPLAI{ATORY STATET{ENT-4- PE 85.91 1 ltin.57The committee on Budgctary controI hercby submits to thc EuropeanParliamerrt tlre fottoring motion for a resotution together yithexptanatory statCmcntiIOTION TOR A RESOLUTIOT{on action taken on thc discharge decirion ln respcct of thc l9E0financiat year_[!e. Eulop.ean Par t iamerrt,t., having regard to Articte E5 of thc Flnancial, Regul,ation of21 Decenbc r 19??1 ;having regard to its resotutions otZ0 Aprtt lgE22 and14 January 19E33;having regard to the report of the comnlssion on action takcnin response to the commcnts appacring in thc resotutionaccompanying the discharge dccision ln rcspcct of thc imptementationof the budget for thc 1980 f inanciat year (CO!l XtV S61tE§;having regard to the report of the Comnittre on BudgeteryContro[ (Doc 1-E12lE3);A. recognising that the discharge procedure enabtes parl,ianentto exercise democratic controt, on behal.f of Europe.! texpayerB,, oVpF the budgetary managemcnt of thc CommissionlB. RecalLlng the responec of the Commis,eion toPartiamcnt's ìnterim report on thc lnptemcntatlon of the igEobudget;1. Notes the positive rerction of thc Commission as reftccted in theconcrete changes of a potitica[, procedurat and accounting naturethat have resutted from Partiamentrs re3otutlons on the imptcmcntationot the 19E0 budget;t2 oJ 1356' 31.1?.1977: oJ C125. 17.5.1982- oaoe 28 - 5 -) oJ L46,' 1E.2.E3, -pa'gd tgpE E5.911/fin.2. stresses the importance of safeguarding the communityrs ornresources, by ensuring adequate inspection and verification, and reiteratesits caLt on the Coinmission to t.l. Éhatever action may be necessary toprotect the revenues of the EC;3. Recognises that the issue of the provisionat tweLfths mayremain in abeyance pending the completion of the present revjsionof the Financiat Regutation;4' Apprea,iates the fact that the Commission has reminded att servicesconcemned of the provisions of the FinanciaL ReguLation concerning the correctand sound management of EC funds and points out that these conccpts extend tothe inctusion of the effectiveness criterion;.,5- 0bserves that there has been a recent improvement in the overattrate of util'isation of research appropriations and urges that this trendbe maintained;6- Finds that certain difficuLties in retation to Community poticiesin the social and regional spheres stem from the faiture of the Councitto provide adequate funds, to adopt the necessary LegisIation, andto pursue a positive course orientated towards comnunity prioritypoticies;7. Expects that the specia[ reports of the court of Auditors inregard to the EAGGF Guarantee section, trhich are nou, under consideration,uitI resuLt in improved management of these funds and tead to reducedscope for fraud and irregutarities;8. Instructs its President to foruard this resotution and thecommitteers report to the commission, the counciI and the court ofAuditors.-6- pE 85 .gl,tttin.BEXPTANAI9B!-§IAIEIENI9es! grssnd-f q-f his-rspet!1. A major responsibil.ity of Partiaments - and for reasons associatedwith the EC Treaties, a prime responsibiLity of the European Partiamentin particutar - is the contro[ and verification of the use made of tax-payers' funds and of the uay in which the budget, as adopted, isi mp Iemented.?. The ròte of Partiament in regard to the examination of the implementationof the EC budget, its powers in retation to the censure of the Commission,and the binding nature of commentsaccompanying Partiament's dischargedecision, are set out in the exptanatory statement on the interim reportof the 1980 financiat year.1 Therefore, it is not necessary for therapporteur to describe, in detait, the significance of the discharge orthe serious nature of Partiament's deIiberations on the management ofCommunity funds, once again, in the present text.I ! e - u e r o - pr eU ! e E§ - e ! - ! h s - L 2 E Q - I -i oe n s r e ! - y e q r3. Neverthetess, it uoutd be usefuI to List the principaI issues thatgave_ rise to concern in the Committee on Budgetary Control rhen the1980 accounts uere examined. These uere as fo[lotrs:-- the failure to make the 1980 embargo on sates of' agricutturaI products to state-trading countries effective;- the unsatisfactory manner in rhich the provisionattuetfths rutes were apptied by the Commission in 1980;- the fai[ure to furnish a futl response to the commentsaccompanying the discharge decision in respect of the1979 financiaI year;- a series of management problems at the JRC researchestabtishment at Ispra;- breaches of proper budgetary accountabitity in retationto construction work in a Commission bui t.ding;1 Do.. 1-1OOt82 PE 85 .9111f in.- the Commission,s faiture to imptement partiamentrsbudgetary amendments;- difficuLties in the sector of overseas aid;- the commission's faitures in retation to the amendmehtof the FinanciaI Regutation appLicabte to the fifth EDF;- the ambiguous attitude of the Commission to thebudgetisation of the EDFs;- the lack of adequate documentation rhich uoutd enabtePartlament to verify that the commissior ensures soundmanagement of EC borrowing and tending activities;- inadequacies in the management of personnel andequipment by the Commissionl- certain probIems of an accounting nature.Eer!reqgn!:§_e!!t!sde_!e_!!ese_pteb!sE§4- t,lhen Partiament considered the interim discharge 19g0 repo.{])i,agreed with the Committee on Budgetary Control and deferred the decisionon the grant of discharge untiI the Commission coutd put foruard urittenrepties to the questions raised by the major issues cited in the precedingparagraph.Ihe-§eqqrs§-le!:§-rsp!y5- ln an extensive and very positive repl.y dated 24 August 1ggz,cOM(82)461 finat, the Commission reacted in detait to the major themesthat gave rise to concern in partiament. The committee on BudgetaryControt considered that the assurances resutted in a consoLidation ofthe effectiveness and of the potiticat character of the discharge procedure.Therefore, the committee foLtored the rapporteur's recommendation that amotion for a discharge be put foruard.6- The principaI assurances that ted the committee to adopt thi'spositive attitude uere the fottowing statements incLuded in the Commission,sr,lr i tten response'.(1) At the Apri[ 19E2 part session _ E _ PE 85 .911 I t in.lrr tfr4 sccond parrgraph on pÉgr lh ol Gof'l(Ea)461 f lnar,, it rer rtàtGd,thc Birhcs of thc ctectcd rrprcrrntatlvcr ol thepcoptcr ol Èuropc 'nurt bt rttorcd to rrart r dccislvclnftucncc ovcr thr dcclrlonr on hor thr co,llmissionls to lmptemcnt thc budgrtr.ànd in retation to borrouing rnd tcndlngl thc asrurancc ln thc Lmtof page 54 of c0m(62)461 flnal stat.tthrt:.At att event!, thc Commlrrlon lntcndr thrt noobstrcte shoutd br ar,tored to prlvcnt Frrr,rr;cnt ' 'from clrrylng out lts pol,iilcat control nrlrrlonln relpcct of borroting rnd Ltndlng actlvltl?t!.IIiIprreqrrphI0n 14 Jenuery 19E3, parUrmcnt rdoptcd tts dlrchrrgc 19E0 dcclslon,eccomprnled by comment3 ln accordancc ulth thÈ tarms of Artlctc E5 0fthe FlnencleI Regutatlon. In att, 19 comment! rGrG rddresrcd to thccommlsslon. Because of the resuttc achtevcd through tha lntcrlm rcport,thlr Llrt of comilént3 ul tcss comptcx thrn routd hlvr bccn th! ceÉrrere lt not for thc comrnlsrlonrs rcpHcr ln c0il(g?)461 flnal.. TheCommission uas catted on to rrpl,y to thtsr conncntr by l trtry 19g!. lhe ;commlgsion comptled uith this catt by glvlng lts rrltttn rcsponlr on29 Aprtt 19t3 (xlx/381 tltir.le!1eo_ !!!!n_bz_!!e_geuollrlen?. The fol,Loring prragraphs summarlso thc conmigtlonrr fottor-up rndlndlcate thc dcslrcbte rttctlon of thc Commlttrr to thr connlrllon.l rupty.- on polnts 1 rnd 2 (ep_illggtml)It l! notÉd thct the comnllrlon rhtrrt tho obJcctlvcr ncntlonrd byPartlament but tcnds to thc vllr thrt thc rorponic to thl thrrnrc lnpolnt 2 are lnadequrtc. Ctrtli6 àlprctt of orn rltotlt,ttt nll,t bc AonCinto ln thG contrxt of tht fot[Ér-up to trlr. Konrrd schònrr rÉport on rthe 1981 dlschrrgc; thercforc, tt lr conridrrcd thrt thlr mrttrr coutdbe dcrtt trlth more cppropriataty ln thr Eqrttft ol r lrtrr rcport. ,ln prrcarrph 6 rbovd,lr ln tho proccsr olb! hètd oyrr pending- on point 3 (preyil!Q0!!_lrtlt!h!)ln vier of thc cssurencr gtv'en lt thc flrst quotrtlònand ln vrer of thc fect thet tha Frnrncirt Rcgutrtronbclng rcvlscd, tt ls consldercd that thtr icrur rhoutdturthcr devctopmentr.-9- PE E5.91tlfln.- on point 4 (ggund_qenegeqg!!_9l- cgqEgulr_Jgld§)This comment stemmed from the serious breach of proper budgetaryaccountabi Lity in the construction of a rfitness centre'. The specific basicissue has been cteared up: houever, a prime task of the financia[control service of the commission must be ens.uring that there are norepetitions.- on point 5 (qggggOlS)The rapporteur uletcomes the fact that there are no real. differencesbetween the commission and the court of Auditors on the matter ofaccounts. This situation has been brought about targety by the positiveaction of the committee on Budgetary controt. It is noted, however, thata report on the closure of the EAGGF accounts riLl. come up for considerationshort Iy.- on point 6 (fgggetg!)The improvement in the rate of util.isation of research appropriations isweIcomed. There is, hotrever, scope for further improvement.- on points 7 and 8 (gegigne!_EUnd)The probtems rel'ating to the implementation of the non-quota section of theERDF uiLL be a major theme in the 19gZ discharge report.- on points 9 and 10 (§ggiat_Egnd)The speciaI annexes to the commission,s repty are noted and it isobserved that, despite simpLification measures, difficutties stiLtpersist in the matter of carrying out controLs.- on point 11 (legngf!_ShgflggCIfOgS)The val.idity of this point, uhich condemned the faiture of the counciIto provide adequate budgetary resources for the EDFris reiterated.- on points 12, 13 and 14 (EAgst_ggfdengg)The efforts being made by the commission in regard to getting projectsstarted in time and the increase in the share of Guidance commitmentsspent in Iess-favoured areas areuetcomed.- 10 - pE E5.9111'f in.- on points 16 and 18 (degenlCelfSed_bgdfgg)The improvement in the controt of the use of EC funds by the satelLitesnoted with approvat.- on point 19 (suggg!rng_9!_!hs_Ans!q:!rt§!_bsrder)The reduction in the cases of smuggting on this Land frontier resuttedfrom pressure apptied by the committee on Budgetary controt.!eog!ssrens8. The process of politicaL control of the EC budget is continuous innature. The procedure in respect of the 1980 financiaI year uas takenin two stages, urith a considerabte degree of progress achieved - on thepoLiticat, proceduraI and accounting ptanes - by way of the interimreport. In view of the fact that the Committee rditL short[y considerthe foLtow-up to the 1981 discharge decision and uril.L atso adopt itsreport on the 1982 discharge, the rapporteur recommends that the contentsof the Commissjon's repLy to the 1980 discharge decision be endorsed urithoutde tay.9. There are some loose ends, houlever. For instance, the rapporteuris not satisfied uith the repLy given to his written question no. ZZs4tBzon aspects of the safeguarding of community revenues.l This can be goneinto in the 1982 discharge report.10- cotIeagues saby, KeLtett-Bouman, Boserup, wettig, Gabert, schònand Price are uorking on the preparation of other reports which makeit possibLe to confine the scope of the present text to the mandatewhich springs from Articte E5 of the Financial. ReguLation.11. FinaLty, it is noted that the European CounciL at Stuttgart observedthat 'expenditure must aIso be controtted, in cooperation uith theEuropean Partiament, outside the agricutturat sector. r and that theCourt of Auditors is asked'to revieu the sound financiaI management ofcommunity activities.' (pE 85.507). In this, the European councit isin harmony with the Committee, on Budgetary Controt.ìS0J no. C 17O, 29.6.83, p.5 - 11 PE 85 .911 / f in.

Report
drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control
on action taken on the discharge decision in respect of the 1980 financial year. EP Working Documents, document 1-812/83, October 1983.

European Communities
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Wbrking Documents
1983- 1984
0ctober 19E3 DCOUTIENT 1-E1?IE3
Report
drawn up on beha[f of the Committee on Budgetary Control
on action taken on the discharge decision ìn respect of
the 19EU financiat year
Rapporteur: ltlr Brian M. KEy
inglish Edition
PE 85 .91'l I f in.

Pursuant to Articte E5 of the Financial Regulation, the Commission
submitted to Partiament the finaL report on the action taken on
the discharge in respect of the 1980 financiat year.
The appointment of filr. Key, rho had already been rapporteur on the
19E0 discharge, uas confirmed on 13 Juty 19E3.
The Committee considered thts document and the draft report at
its meetings of 13 JuLy and ?61?7/2E September 19E3.
At the latter meeting the Committee adopted the draft report
unan i mous ty.
The report r,as deposited on 4 0ctober 1983.
The fol.torring took part in the vote:- lrtr. Aigner, chairman; ttlr.
Treacy, vice-chairman; [tlr. Key, rapporteur; ttlr. Battersby,
Mr. Enright (deputising for ltlr. Boyes); Mr. Gabert; trtr. lrmer
and Mr. Schiin.
-3- PE 85.9111f in.
gquEu§
TIOTTOI{ IOR A RESOLUTION
EXPLAI{ATORY STATET{ENT
-4- PE 85.91 1 ltin.
5
7
The committee on Budgctary controI hercby submits to thc European
Parliamerrt tlre fottoring motion for a resotution together yith
exptanatory statCmcnt
iIOTION TOR A RESOLUTIOT{
on action taken on thc discharge decirion ln respcct of thc l9E0
financiat year
_[!e. Eulop.ean Par t iamerrt,
t.
, having regard to Articte E5 of thc Flnancial, Regul,ation of
21 Decenbc r 19??1 ;
having regard to its resotutions otZ0 Aprtt lgE22 and
14 January 19E33;
having regard to the report of the comnlssion on action takcn
in response to the commcnts appacring in thc resotution
accompanying the discharge dccision ln rcspcct of thc imptementation
of the budget for thc 1980 f inanciat year (CO!l XtV S61tE§;
having regard to the report of the Comnittre on Budgetery
Contro[ (Doc 1-E12lE3);
A. recognising that the discharge procedure enabtes parl,ianent
to exercise democratic controt, on behal.f of Europe.! texpayerB,
, oVpF the budgetary managemcnt of thc Commissionl
B. RecalLlng the responec of the Commis,eion to
Partiamcnt's ìnterim report on thc lnptemcntatlon of the igEo
budget;
1. Notes the positive rerction of thc Commission as reftccted in the
concrete changes of a potitica[, procedurat and accounting nature
that have resutted from Partiamentrs re3otutlons on the imptcmcntation
ot the 19E0 budget;
t
2 oJ 1356' 31.1?.1977
: oJ C125. 17.5.1982- oaoe 28 - 5 -) oJ L46,' 1E.2.E3, -pa'gd tg
pE E5.911/fin.
2. stresses the importance of safeguarding the communityrs orn
resources, by ensuring adequate inspection and verification, and reiterates
its caLt on the Coinmission to t.l. Éhatever action may be necessary to
protect the revenues of the EC;
3. Recognises that the issue of the provisionat tweLfths may
remain in abeyance pending the completion of the present revjsion
of the Financiat Regutation;
4' Apprea,iates the fact that the Commission has reminded att services
concemned of the provisions of the FinanciaL ReguLation concerning the correct
and sound management of EC funds and points out that these conccpts extend to
the inctusion of the effectiveness criterion;.,
5- 0bserves that there has been a recent improvement in the overatt
rate of util'isation of research appropriations and urges that this trend
be maintained;
6- Finds that certain difficuLties in retation to Community poticies
in the social and regional spheres stem from the faiture of the Councit
to provide adequate funds, to adopt the necessary LegisIation, and
to pursue a positive course orientated towards comnunity priority
poticies;
7. Expects that the specia[ reports of the court of Auditors in
regard to the EAGGF Guarantee section, trhich are nou, under consideration,
uitI resuLt in improved management of these funds and tead to reduced
scope for fraud and irregutarities;
8. Instructs its President to foruard this resotution and the
committeers report to the commission, the counciI and the court of
Auditors.
-6- pE 85 .gl,tttin.
BEXPTANAI9B!-§IAIEIENI
9es! grssnd-f q-f his-rspet!
1. A major responsibil.ity of Partiaments - and for reasons associated
with the EC Treaties, a prime responsibiLity of the European Partiament
in particutar - is the contro[ and verification of the use made of tax-
payers' funds and of the uay in which the budget, as adopted, is
i mp Iemented.
?. The ròte of Partiament in regard to the examination of the implementation
of the EC budget, its powers in retation to the censure of the Commission,
and the binding nature of commentsaccompanying Partiament's discharge
decision, are set out in the exptanatory statement on the interim report
of the 1980 financiat year.1 Therefore, it is not necessary for the
rapporteur to describe, in detait, the significance of the discharge or
the serious nature of Partiament's deIiberations on the management of
Community funds, once again, in the present text.
I ! e 
- 
u e r o 
- 
pr eU ! e E§ 
- 
e ! 
- 
! h s 
- 
L 2 E Q 
- 
I 
-i oe n s r e ! 
- 
y e q r
3. Neverthetess, it uoutd be usefuI to List the principaI issues that
gave_ rise to concern in the Committee on Budgetary Control rhen the
1980 accounts uere examined. These uere as fo[lotrs:-
- the failure to make the 1980 embargo on sates of
' agricutturaI products to state-trading countries effective;
- the unsatisfactory manner in rhich the provisionat
tuetfths rutes were apptied by the Commission in 1980;
- the fai[ure to furnish a futl response to the comments
accompanying the discharge decision in respect of the
1979 financiaI year;
- a series of management problems at the JRC research
estabtishment at Ispra;
- breaches of proper budgetary accountabitity in retation
to construction work in a Commission bui t.ding;
1 Do.. 1-1OOt82 PE 85 .9111f in.
- the Commission,s faiture to imptement partiamentrs
budgetary amendments;
- difficuLties in the sector of overseas aid;
- the commission's faitures in retation to the amendmeht
of the FinanciaI Regutation appLicabte to the fifth EDF;
- the ambiguous attitude of the Commission to the
budgetisation of the EDFs;
- the lack of adequate documentation rhich uoutd enabte
Partlament to verify that the commissior ensures sound
management of EC borrowing and tending activities;
- inadequacies in the management of personnel and
equipment by the Commissionl
- certain probIems of an accounting nature.
Eer!reqgn!:§_e!!t!sde_!e_!!ese_pteb!sE§
4- t,lhen Partiament considered the interim discharge 19g0 repo.{])i,
agreed with the Committee on Budgetary Control and deferred the decision
on the grant of discharge untiI the Commission coutd put foruard uritten
repties to the questions raised by the major issues cited in the preceding
paragraph.
Ihe-§eqqrs§-le!:§-rsp!y
5- ln an extensive and very positive repl.y dated 24 August 1ggz,
cOM(82)461 finat, the Commission reacted in detait to the major themes
that gave rise to concern in partiament. The committee on Budgetary
Controt considered that the assurances resutted in a consoLidation of
the effectiveness and of the potiticat character of the discharge procedure.
Therefore, the committee foLtored the rapporteur's recommendation that a
motion for a discharge be put foruard.
6- The principaI assurances that ted the committee to adopt thi's
positive attitude uere the fottowing statements incLuded in the Commission,s
r,lr i tten response'.
(1) At the Apri[ 19E2 part session 
_ E _ PE 85 .911 I t in.
lrr tfr4 sccond parrgraph on pÉgr lh ol Gof'l(Ea)461 f lnar,, it rer rtàtGd
,thc Birhcs of thc ctectcd rrprcrrntatlvcr ol the
pcoptcr ol Èuropc 
'nurt 
bt rttorcd to rrart r dccislvc
lnftucncc ovcr thr dcclrlonr on hor thr co,llmission
ls to lmptemcnt thc budgrtr.
ànd in retation to borrouing rnd tcndlngl thc asrurancc ln thc Lmt
of page 54 of c0m(62)461 flnal stat.tthrt:
.At att event!, thc Commlrrlon lntcndr thrt no
obstrcte shoutd br ar,tored to prlvcnt Frrr,rr;cnt ' '
from clrrylng out lts pol,iilcat control nrlrrlon
ln relpcct of borroting rnd Ltndlng actlvltl?t!.
I
I
i
I
prreqrrph
I
0n 14 Jenuery 19E3, parUrmcnt rdoptcd tts dlrchrrgc 19E0 dcclslon,
eccomprnled by comment3 ln accordancc ulth thÈ tarms of Artlctc E5 0f
the FlnencleI Regutatlon. In att, 19 comment! rGrG rddresrcd to thc
commlsslon. Because of the resuttc achtevcd through tha lntcrlm rcport,
thlr Llrt of comilént3 ul tcss comptcx thrn routd hlvr bccn th! ceÉr
rere lt not for thc comrnlsrlonrs rcpHcr ln c0il(g?)461 flnal.. The
Commission uas catted on to rrpl,y to thtsr conncntr by l trtry 19g!. lhe ;
commlgsion comptled uith this catt by glvlng lts rrltttn rcsponlr on
29 Aprtt 19t3 (xlx/381 tltir.
le!1eo_ !!!!n_bz_!!e_geuollrlen
?. The fol,Loring prragraphs summarlso thc conmigtlonrr fottor-up rnd
lndlcate thc dcslrcbte rttctlon of thc Commlttrr to thr connlrllon.l rupty.
- on polnts 1 rnd 2 (ep_illggtml)
It l! notÉd thct the comnllrlon rhtrrt tho obJcctlvcr ncntlonrd by
Partlament but tcnds to thc vllr thrt thc rorponic to thl thrrnrc ln
polnt 2 are lnadequrtc. Ctrtli6 àlprctt of orn rltotlt,ttt nll,t bc AonCinto ln thG contrxt of tht fot[Ér-up to trlr. Konrrd schònrr rÉport on r
the 1981 dlschrrgc; thercforc, tt lr conridrrcd thrt thlr mrttrr coutd
be dcrtt trlth more cppropriataty ln thr Eqrttft ol r lrtrr rcport. ,
ln prrcarrph 6 rbovd,
lr ln tho proccsr ol
b! hètd oyrr pending
- on point 3 (preyil!Q0!!_lrtlt!h!)
ln vier of thc cssurencr gtv'en lt thc flrst quotrtlòn
and ln vrer of thc fect thet tha Frnrncirt Rcgutrtron
bclng rcvlscd, tt ls consldercd that thtr icrur rhoutd
turthcr devctopmentr.
-9- PE E5.91tlfln.
- on point 4 (ggund_qenegeqg!!_9l- cgqEgulr_Jgld§)
This comment stemmed from the serious breach of proper budgetary
accountabi Lity in the construction of a rfitness centre'. The specific basic
issue has been cteared up: houever, a prime task of the financia[
control service of the commission must be ens.uring that there are no
repetitions.
- on point 5 (qggggOlS)
The rapporteur uletcomes the fact that there are no real. differences
between the commission and the court of Auditors on the matter of
accounts. This situation has been brought about targety by the positive
action of the committee on Budgetary controt. It is noted, however, that
a report on the closure of the EAGGF accounts riLl. come up for consideration
short Iy.
- on point 6 (fgggetg!)
The improvement in the rate of util.isation of research appropriations is
weIcomed. There is, hotrever, scope for further improvement.
- on points 7 and 8 (gegigne!_EUnd)
The probtems rel'ating to the implementation of the non-quota section of the
ERDF uiLL be a major theme in the 19gZ discharge report.
- on points 9 and 10 (§ggiat_Egnd)
The speciaI annexes to the commission,s repty are noted and it is
observed that, despite simpLification measures, difficutties stiLtpersist in the matter of carrying out controLs.
- on point 11 (legngf!_ShgflggCIfOgS)
The val.idity of this point, uhich condemned the faiture of the counciI
to provide adequate budgetary resources for the EDFris reiterated.
- on points 12, 13 and 14 (EAgst_ggfdengg)
The efforts being made by the commission in regard to getting projects
started in time and the increase in the share of Guidance commitments
spent in Iess-favoured areas areuetcomed.
- 10 - pE E5.9111'f in.
- on points 16 and 18 (degenlCelfSed_bgdfgg)
The improvement in the controt of the use of EC funds by the satelLites
noted with approvat.
- on point 19 (suggg!rng_9!_!hs_Ans!q:!rt§!_bsrder)
The reduction in the cases of smuggting on this Land frontier resutted
from pressure apptied by the committee on Budgetary controt.
!eog!ssrens
8. The process of politicaL control of the EC budget is continuous in
nature. The procedure in respect of the 1980 financiaI year uas taken
in two stages, urith a considerabte degree of progress achieved - on the
poLiticat, proceduraI and accounting ptanes - by way of the interim
report. In view of the fact that the Committee rditL short[y consider
the foLtow-up to the 1981 discharge decision and uril.L atso adopt its
report on the 1982 discharge, the rapporteur recommends that the contents
of the Commissjon's repLy to the 1980 discharge decision be endorsed urithout
de tay.
9. There are some loose ends, houlever. For instance, the rapporteur
is not satisfied uith the repLy given to his written question no. ZZs4tBz
on aspects of the safeguarding of community revenues.l This can be gone
into in the 1982 discharge report.
10- cotIeagues saby, KeLtett-Bouman, Boserup, wettig, Gabert, schòn
and Price are uorking on the preparation of other reports which make
it possibLe to confine the scope of the present text to the mandate
which springs from Articte E5 of the Financial. ReguLation.
11. FinaLty, it is noted that the European CounciL at Stuttgart observed
that 'expenditure must aIso be controtted, in cooperation uith the
European Partiament, outside the agricutturat sector. r and that the
Court of Auditors is asked'to revieu the sound financiaI management of
community activities.' (pE 85.507). In this, the European councit is
in harmony with the Committee, on Budgetary Controt.
ìS
0J no. C 17O, 29.6.83, p.5 - 
11 PE 85 .911 / f in.



http://aei.pitt.edu/89744/1/1983%2D84.83.812.pdf

Report drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control on action taken on the discharge decision in respect of the 1980 financial year. EP Working Documents, document 1-812/83, October 1983.

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Archive of European Integration

Archive of European Integration