Article 2 7 0 — Limited consultations, studies and surveys

Remarks

This appropriation is intended to enable studies to be contracted out to qualified experts in the fields of audit and also in those of an administrative nature.

As part of its audit work, the Court of Auditors has to call on outside experts for technical studies and analyses (chemical, physical and statistical). The need for appropriations to cover the cost of studies contracted out to experts is justified by the specialised and sometimes unforeseeable nature of the studies in question. Without such appropriations, the Court of Auditors could be seriously hampered in performing its duties and its independence could be jeopardised. This appropriation also includes the cost of the audit of the Court of Auditors' accounts by independent auditors whose report is published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 2 7 2 — Documentation, library and archiving expenditure

Remarks

Former Items 2 2 5 0, 2 2 5 1, 2 2 5 2, 2 2 5 3, 2 2 5 4 and 2 2 7 0

This appropriation is intended to cover:

• the acquisition of books, documents and other non-periodic publications and updates for existing volumes,

• special equipment for the library,

• the cost of subscriptions to newspapers, periodicals and various bulletins,

• the cost of subscriptions to news agencies or external informative data-bases,

• access charges for certain external data-bases,

• the cost of binding and upkeep of library books,

• the cost of archive services and the acquisition of archive resources on substitute media.

Article 2 7 4 — Production and distribution

Item 2 7 4 0 — Official Journal

Remarks

This appropriation is intended to cover the cost of publications by the Court of Auditors in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 18(1)(e) to (j) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 77 000.

Item 2 7 4 1 — Publications of a general nature

Remarks

This appropriation is intended to cover:

• the costs of publishing and distributing the reports and opinions adopted by the Court pursuant to Article 248(4), second subparagraph, and 280(4) of the Treaty establishing the European Community,

• expenditure on distribution of documents on general audit work and relating to the Court of Auditors' activities (website, audiovisual equipment, paper documents),

• the expenditure incurred on the application of Declaration No 18 annexed to the Treaty of Nice relating to the Court of Auditors: ‘The Conference of representatives of the governments of the Member States invites the Court of Auditors and the national audit institutions to improve the framework and conditions for cooperation between them, while maintaining the autonomy of each. To that end, the President of the Court of Auditors may set up a contact committee with the chairmen of the national audit institutions‚.

The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 18(1)(e) to (j) of the Financial Regulation is estimated as a token entry.

Managed by the Publications Office