51997AP0039

A4-0039/97

Proposal for a Council Regulation adjusting the daily subsistence allowance rates for officials on mission within the European territory of the Member States of the European Union laid down in Article 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities and introducing an annual adjustment procedure (COM(96)0451 - C4-0542/96 - 96/0232(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Citation 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Having regard to the financial perspective adopted under the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure,

(Amendment 2)

Recital 4a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, as part of interinstitutional cooperation and in particular the conclusions on the rationalization of administrative expenditure, common criteria should be established for the provisions governing mission expenses;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 5a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the budgetary authority must be given details of the annual adjustments in the documents accompanying the estimates of the institutions;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 5b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas each institution must justify the overall budget adopted for mission expenses in its estimates on the basis of an annual work programme;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 5c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas each institution, in exercising the powers conferred upon it by the Financial Regulation as regards autonomous implementation of the budget, must ensure strict application of the principles of sound financial management and in particular economy and cost-effectiveness;

(Amendment 6)

ARTICLE 1(4)

Annex VII, Article 13(9), new subparagraph at end (Staff Regulations)

>Original text>

The rates set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be adjusted by the Commission by 31 March each year on the basis of the hotel and catering price indices published by Eurostat in November of the preceding year and the relevant exchange rates. It shall notify the other institutions accordingly. The decision shall take effect on the first day of the month following its adoption.

>Text following EP vote>

The rates set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be adjusted by the Commission by 31 March each year on the basis of the hotel and catering price indices published by Eurostat in November of the preceding year and the relevant exchange rates. The Commission shall inform the other institutions of the new parameters to be used when working out their draft estimates for the financial year n + 1. The budgetary authority shall, acting in accordance with the budgetary procedure, determine whether the new rates are to be applied.

(Amendment 7)

ARTICLE 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1a

Each institution shall attach to the annual estimate a statement justifying its request for appropriations for mission expenses on the basis of its annual work programme by sector of activity, including expenses engendered by professional training. This statement shall take account of the specific nature of each institution and provide information on measures taken, in particular on the final accounts for daily subsistence allowances. These measures shall seek to ensure strict application of the principles of sound financial management and, in particular, economy and cost-effectiveness.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation adjusting the daily subsistence allowance rates for officials on mission within the European territory of the Member States of the European Union laid down in Article 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities and introducing an annual adjustment procedure (COM(96)0451 - C4-0542/96 - 96/0232(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0451 - 96/0232 (CNS) ((OJ C 349, 20.11.1996, p. 8.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 24 of the Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities (C4-0542/96),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0039/97),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.