Brussels, 15/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Thursday 14 April, the European Parliament stressed that the proportion of its administrative spending in 2017 should be kept below 20% of Heading 5 (Administration) of the EU's budget.
Adopting by 409 to 221 and 13 abstentions a report by Indrek Tarand (Greens/EFA, Estonia) on the provisional state of income and spending for the European Parliament in the 2017 tax year, the EP decided to reduce its share of Heading 5 to 19.17% next year. Adopting an amendment lodged by the EPP group, the EP said it wanted to restrict the increase of its ordinary expenditure for 2017, without the two extraordinary envelopes, to 1,4 % compared to the ordinary expenditure of the 2016 budget and 0,6% compared to the 2016 budget. The EP sets the provisional total for 2017 at €1,900,873,000, an overall increase of 3.4% on the 2016 budget.
The MEPs stress that no computer equipment will be delivered because the general costs allowance provides enough money to buy leading technology.
MEPs' expenses and allowances. Adopting by 332 to 292 and 21 abstentions an amendment lodged by the Greens/EFA, the EP reiterated its call on the Bureau to define more precise rules regarding the accountability of the expenditure authorised under the general expenditure allowance, which could include cost effective measures such as Members publishing their spending records, as already done by a growing number of Members, and could be accompanied by a simplified system for repaying unused funds.
Buildings policy. The EP calls on the Bureau to present a long term strategy for Parliament buildings; believes that a report on the reasons of the delay and the higher costs of the House of European History should feed into the long term building strategy; calls for the cost of the Konrad Adenauer Building to be clearly set out in Parliament's definitive budget, and for property-related investment to be incorporated into the budget, in future, so as to obviate the need for mopping-up transfers. Adopting by 438 to 200 and 8 abstentions an amendment lodged by the GUE/NGL group, the EP says that in the current economic climate, no new Parlemenatium project should be started without the consultation and prior approval of the budgets committee.
Single headquarters. By 474 to 118 and 50 abstentions, the EP recalls the substantial savings that could be made by having only one place of work instead of three (Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg); underlines that this process should be lead without endangering Parliament's legislative excellence, its budgetary powers and powers of scrutiny, or the quality of working conditions for Members, assistants, and staff.
Staff. The EP welcomes the proposal to reduce its establishment plan in 2017 by 60 posts in line with the agreement reached with the Council on the draft general budget of the European Union for the 2016 financial year. The EP supports the additional posts required for Irish language translation and interpretation; Backs the introduction of international sign language interpretation for all plenary debates.
Chauffeur services/mobility. The EP has reservations about the proposal of internalisation of chauffeur service replacing the external service provider with Parliament's contractual agents, which will correspond to approximately €3.7 million of immediate additional expenses; would consider the internalisation only if its costs do not exceed the costs related to the current system, and if it allows decent working conditions and pay for drivers, improved gender balance, and the use of greener cars. Adopting an amendment from the ELDD group, the EP believes that the car fleet should consist of more cost- and fuel-efficient and secure cars; stresses the fact that preference should be given to the use of minivans and buses, to and from the airport, at scheduled times; calls on the Secretary-General to submit a report on a complete shift to electric locomotion at the end of the decade.
The EP calls for the possibility to be looked into of working more closely with ARTE in Strasbourg to set up a European media platform for training young journalists.
Finally, it says it is possible to make other savings in the expenditure on buildings and an increase of €3.5 million for 2016 and a similar amount for 2017 “are far from reasonable”.
During the debate the previous day, rapporteur Indrek Tarand raised the problem of internalisation of MEPs' transport services. The budgets committee has asked for finance to be set aside and it will be for the Bureau to decide whether it is possible to release the funding. The rapporteur says, however, that the fact that the Bureau decides would infringe the EP's own rules. He says it should be the budgets committee that makes the decision.
Paul Rübig (EPP, Austria) said the EP had banked on a 1% fall in posts in 2017 and pledges to make as many savings as possible. The fact that EP expenditure is below the 20% mark of total spending on administration in the budget) at 19.17% is something that is quite rare, he said. Rübig talked about 'frugal and reasonable' budget forecasts. Jean-Paul Denanot (S&D, France) also described the estimates as 'balanced and reasonable' (up 1.4% on 2016). He said there should be a clear separation between investment preparing for the future on the one hand, and running costs on the other. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)