A.

whereas ‘citizens have the right to know how their taxes are being spent and how the power entrusted to political bodies is handled’ (6),

1.

Notes that in 2008 the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) had commitment appropriations available amounting to a total of EUR 118 million (EUR 116 million in 2007), with a utilisation rate of 95,64 %, the same as the average of the other institutions (95,67 %);

2.

Notes that the Court of Auditors indicated in its annual report that the audit did not give rise to any significant observations as regards the EESC;

3.

Notes the minor increase in the number of permanent posts (700 posts in 2008; 695 posts in 2007) allocated to the EESC, and the fact that almost all of those posts have been filled (14 vacant posts in 2008; 8 vacant posts in 2007); welcomes the adoption and implementation of the medium-term plan (2008-2013 strategy) to promote equal opportunities and diversity in the secretariat, in particular, introducing general flexitime arrangements in the future, as well as a medium-term training plan (2008 to 2010) and developing a policy of staff mobility, and looks forward to reports on advancement in the human resources policy;

4.

Points to the remark made by the Court of Auditors in Annex 11.2 of its annual report to the different approach of the EESC (as well as of the Parliament) when applying the provisions of the Staff Regulations as regards the multiplication factor; points out that the EESC thereby grants its staff a financial advantage not granted by the other institutions, and that that results in higher expenses; reiterates that the provisions of the Staff Regulations concerning the multiplication factor should be interpreted and implemented by all the institutions in the same way; notes the EESC’s intention to adapt its practice in conformity with the awaited Civil Service Tribunal’s ruling;

5.

Welcomes the implementation of the Administrative Cooperation Agreement between the EESC and the Committee of the Regions (CoR) for the period 2008 to 2014, and invites the EESC and the CoR to communicate the progress made as regards harmonising their internal control standards, as well as relevant financial procedures relating to the Joint Services; takes note of the mutually satisfactory solution of distributing verification in the Joint services on the basis of the ‘origin’ of the authorising officer in charge from one Committee or the other;

6.

Recalls that de-coupling resulting from the Administrative Cooperation Agreement should be budget neutral, and is looking forward to the mid-term review of the Agreement, due in 2011, and, as a part of that, to a joint analysis by the EESC and the CoR;

7.

Welcomes the results of evaluation of the mini-cooperation agreements in the areas affected by de-coupling, as carried out jointly by the EESC and the CoR, in particular, their conclusions that the new governance structure has improved the administrative cooperation between the Committees, that de-coupled services have maintained quality and improved efficiency, and that no supplementary budget means were needed; also notes the conclusion that some practical aspects of the cooperation should be improved in the future;

8.

Welcomes the EESC efforts in the area of interinstitutional cooperation in the domain of IT systems, in particular, the negotiations of the EESC and the CoR with the Commission on the use of the staff management system Sysper2;

9.

Notes the EESC assurance regarding the controls, particularly that the EESC’s internal rules foresee systematic ex-ante verification, and that this is augmented by random ex-post controls, especially in areas with high volume;

10.

Welcomes the successful operation of the EESC audit committee, the audits carried out and follow-up on the agreed action plans, as well as further development of key activity and performance indicators (KAPI) in 2008, carried out by the Internal Audit Unit, and the readiness of the EESC to support other institutions with information on the experience gained in developing KAPI;

11.

Recalls that members of the EESC do not declare their financial interests or disclose relevant information on declarable professional activities and remunerated posts or activities; requests that the EESC introduces this obligation for its members without delay;

12.

Urges furthermore that travel expenses of members of the EESC should be based only on actual travel costs; suggests further that daily allowances should be equal to the ones received by the Members of the European Parliament; calls on the Secretary General of the EESC to report to the Committee on Budgetary Control of the European Parliament before September 2010 on the appropriate new internal rules that are to be adopted;

13.

Notes the fact that the ad-hoc group of the EESC Bureau responsible for drafting proposals on revising the members’ financial statute has concluded its work and the proposal is now being discussed in the appropriate bodies; urges the EESC to communicate the outcome of that process;

14.

Recalls its observation that the rules on procurement of the Financial Regulation are excessively cumbersome for smaller institutions; reminds the Commission of its request that it consult extensively with the EESC when carrying out its preliminary work prior to drawing up any future proposals for amendment to the Financial Regulation, in order to ensure that EESC concerns are fully taken into account;

15.

Praises the EESC for the quality of its annual activity report, and welcomes the inclusion of the explicit follow-up to Parliament’s previous discharge decisions.