2.10.2012   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 296/226

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having regard to Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

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having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (1), and particularly Article 31 thereof,

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having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (2),

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having regard to its resolution of 9 March 2011 on the guidelines for the 2012 budget procedure – Sections I, II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X (3),

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having regard to the Secretary-General's report to the Bureau on drawing up Parliament's preliminary draft estimates for the financial year 2012,

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having regard to the preliminary draft estimates drawn up by the Bureau on 23 March 2011 pursuant to Rules 23(7) and 79(1) of Parliament's Rules of Procedure,

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having regard to the draft estimates drawn up by the Committee on Budgets pursuant to Rule 79(2) of Parliament's Rules of Procedure,

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having regard to Rule 79 of its Rules of Procedure,

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having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A7-0087/2011),

A.

whereas the current financial, economic and social situation of the Union obliges the institutions to respond with the quality and efficiency that is required and to employ strict management procedures so that savings should be achieved; considers that such savings should involve budget lines relating to Members of the European Parliament,

B.

whereas the institutions should be provided with sufficient resources, although, given the current economic context, those resources should be managed with rigour and efficiency,

C.

whereas it is particularly desirable for the Committee on Budgets and the Bureau to continue with the enhanced cooperation throughout the annual budget procedure under Rules 23 and 79 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which provide that the Bureau is responsible for taking financial, organisational and administrative decisions concerning the internal organisation of Parliament as well as for drawing up Parliament's preliminary draft estimates and the Committee on Budgets is responsible for the report to the plenary on Parliament’s budget estimates in the context of the annual procedure,

D.

whereas the prerogatives of the plenary in adopting the estimates and the final budget will be fully maintained in accordance with the Treaty and the Rules of Procedure,

E.

whereas a pre-conciliation meeting between delegations of the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets took place on 15 March and 22 March 2011,

F.

whereas in a recent letter, the Commissioner responsible for budget called on all institutions to make every possible effort towards limiting expenditure in preparing their own estimates of expenditure for the Draft Budget 2012,

1.

Welcomes the so far good cooperation between the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets during the current budget procedure and the agreement between the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets during its pre-conciliation on 22 March 2011;

2.

Notes that the level of the Preliminary Draft Estimates for the 2012 budget, as suggested by the Secretary General to the Bureau, amounts to EUR 1 773 560 543, representing 20,26 % of heading 5 of the multiannual financial framework (MFF); notes that the rate of increase suggested is 5,20 % over the 2011 budget;

3.

Welcomes the fact that the Bureau adopted savings compared to the originally suggested Preliminary Draft Estimates in its Preliminary Draft Estimates for the 2012 budget as adopted at its meeting on 23 March 2011 after its pre-conciliation with the Committee on Budgets; confirms the proposal of the Bureau and sets the overall level of the Draft Estimates 2012 at EUR 1 724 575 043, representing 19,70 % of heading 5 of the MFF; notes that the rate of increase suggested is 2,30 % over the 2011 budget;

4.

Calls for a long-term review of the Parliament's budget; asks for future potential savings to be identified in order to reduce costs and create resources for the long-term running of the Parliament as part of the legislative authority;

5.

Reaffirms that in the light of the difficult economic and budgetary conditions in the Member States, the Parliament should show its budgetary responsibility and self-restraint by staying under the current inflation rate (4); following the interinstitutional line, enlargement-related needs are to be integrated either by a letter of amendment or an amending budget; the needs for the 18 new MEPs following the Lisbon Treaty will be also integrated by a letter of amendment or an amending budget;

6.

Furthermore urges the administration to present an objective evaluation of Parliament's budget with the aim of identifying savings throughout and present this evaluation to the Committee on Budgets in a timely fashion before the end of the budgetary procedure;

7.

Recalls that the ceiling for heading 5 of the MFF for the Union budget in 2012 is EUR 8 754 million;

8.

Is of the opinion that Parliament and the other institutions should show budgetary responsibility and self-restraint in the context of economic crisis and the heavy burden of public debt and restraint in times of ongoing national budgetary consolidation efforts without undermining the goal of legislative excellence;

9.

Encourages the Bureau to apply a stringent human resources management approach prior to the establishment of new posts within Parliament;

10.

Considers that the ongoing efforts to modernise and rationalise the administration and the proposals for 2012 should contribute to a reduction in the external provision of services and expects significant savings to be made here so as to achieve a level of expenditure comparable at least to that of 2010;

11.

Welcomes the Secretary General's proposal to continue to implement Parliament's environmental policy, to start an information campaign, to provide support for the multi-annual ICT strategy and to continue to modernise and rationalise the administration;

12.

Efforts to modernise and rationalise the administration must also include the security of the Parliament; requests a reserve of EUR 3 million, which would be lifted upon presentation of a viable concept for improvements and costs-plans; recalls, from the abovementioned resolution of 9 March 2011, that a thorough review should be implemented as to whether the right of freedom of access for European citizens to meet with their European representatives could be more effectively matched with the urgent need to provide security for those who work in the institutions; asks the Secretary-General to submit such a report by 30 June 2011;

13.

Recalls the importance of all the points mentioned in the guidelines for the 2012 budget such as the modernisation of the software application systems including the digital strategy with regard to the Web 2.0 tools and social networks, the cloud computing system and Wifi, information and communication policy, the knowledge management system, translation and interpretation, environmental policy and EMAS and active non-discrimination policies;

14.

Considers that in the implementation of the 2012 budget further savings should be achieved by reducing the consumption of, in particular, water, electricity and paper and that an effort should be made to reduce transportation costs related to official missions and travel;

15.

Highlights the need for constant and evenly distributed information to European citizens and asks its administration to constantly monitor existing and potential locations for its information offices, in particular where accommodation is offered free of charge;

16.

Requests that a thorough review be conducted of the current links between the European Parliament and national parliaments with a view to seeing how to improve the sectoral contacts between parliamentary committees in the European Parliament and the Member States to generate a more substantive and satisfactory dialogue;

17.

Recalls its position, in its abovementioned resolution of 9 March 2011, expressed in its resolution on the guidelines for the 2012 budget procedure; considers that early payment, with a view to reducing financing costs, remains one of the key priorities for the future; asks in this context for optimal use of the budget resources, the development of a medium- and long-term strategy seeking to find the best solution and taking into account the need to assess various options and alternative financing possibilities while respecting the principles of transparency and sound financial management;

18.

Reiterates that the European Parliament will consider additional funding only on the basis of necessary information regarding (1) the amount and the sources of the expected means of financing, (2) additional information regarding the legal implications, and provided that (3) all decisions relating to the project are subject to a proper decision-making procedure ensuring an open debate and transparency; takes note of the estimated total cost for setting up the House of European History, the estimated running costs and the staffing needs; asks the Bureau to reduce the estimated running costs; requests - in order to maintain a transparent and fruitful dialogue with the parties involved - to be presented with a business plan setting out the long-term business strategy of the House of European History and requests to be informed as soon as possible on the building project according to Article 179(3) of the Financial Regulation proposes a reserve of EUR 2 million until receipt of said business plan;

19.

Does not support the creation of a new budget line at this stage specifically for the House of European History; therefore requests that the EUR 1 million which has been allocated to the new item ‘3247’ (House of European History) be transferred to Chapter 10 1 (contingency reserve); considers, however, that any creation of such a line should be part of a transparent procedure and approved by the budgetary authority;

20.

Adopts the estimates for the financial year 2012 and recalls that the adoption of Parliament's position on the Draft Budget, as modified by the Council, will take place in October 2011, according to the procedure laid down by the Treaty;

21.

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