Brussels, 26/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament considers that the ceiling of 20% of the total EU administrative budget to which it restricts its administrative spending is now proving to be much tighter than in the past, since it has to cover expenses not provided for in its self-imposed undertaking in 1988. With the adoption on Thursday 25 February of the report by Vladimír Maòka (S&D, Slovakia) on the estimates of revenue and expenditure for Amending Budget 1/2010, by 430 votes to 117, with 58 abstentions, the EP notes that, since 2006, Parliament has included expenditure such as the Members' statute (which has generated savings for member states), the Assistants' statute, expenditure related to its new role with the Lisbon Treaty and also an expanded buildings policy to accommodate its overall needs, including enlargements.
The total cost of the new “Lisbon posts” is €13.4 million, or 0.8% of Parliament's total 2010 budget of €1.6 billion. To avoid going above the 20% ceiling, Parliament decided to cut its internal reserve for buildings by €4 million (bringing it down from €15 million to €11 million).
New staff. Parliament plans to take on an additional 75 civil servants and to add 75 posts to the staff of the political groups. The budget for hiring assistants, which is handled by
Parliament's administrative services and not paid to MEPs themselves, will be raised by €1,500 per month and per MEP.
Next steps. The vote on 25 February is not a final decision. The European Commission is expected soon to table a proposal to amend Parliament's budget for 2010. This proposal could then be approved by the Council and Parliament in April. (L.C./transl.rt)