Brussels, 21/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 21 November, MEPs criticised the rise in the rate of error in the EU budget from 3.9% in 2011, to 4.8% in 2012. This is included in the European Court of Auditors' annual report, published on Tuesday 5 November and presented to the plenary by Court President Vitor Caldeira (see EUROPE 10957).
Markus Pieper (EPP, Germany) complained that there was still no positive declaration of assurance (DAS) and, “we don't appear to be getting close to this objective, quite the contrary”. He highlighted that the rate of error had increased for the third year in a row. Six countries accounted for 90% of errors in agricultural spending, he pointed out. Pieper concluded that “a mechanism is needed that penalises bad behaviour… We need to see what the Commission communication will contain on what clear corrections should be applied”. Jens Geier (S&D, Germany) said that inspections should be stepped up in member states and that “Mr Barroso has obviously proved incapable of asserting himself with the member states”. He also called for lump sums to be made available for certain small-scale projects. Jan Mulder (ALDE, Netherlands) said that he was “sorry to see that” the Council was absent during this debate, despite the fact that many errors were down to member states. The system had to be changed, he argued. (LC/transl.fl)