In Brussels on Tuesday 30 May, the committees on budgets and budgetary control of the European Parliament adopted (29 votes to one with 13 abstentions) the report by Ingeborg Gräßle (EPP, Germany) and Richard Ashworth (ECR, UK) that makes considerable amendments to the proposal revising the financial rules applicable to the EU budget (the so-called 'omnibus' regulation).
The vote was on the mandate to be adopted by Parliament at the forthcoming plenary session (Strasbourg, 12-15 June) with a view to starting talks with the Council on this 'omnibus' regulation. The report includes all of the amendments tabled by Parliament's committee on agriculture. (see EUROPE 11793).
In order to avoid an increased fragmentation of EU funds, the MEPs are opposing the proposed introduction of 'trust funds' for emergency or specific actions in the EU. The increasing number of funds outside the EU budget is a matter of great concern to the MEPs (lack of transparency and less control for the budgetary authority). The MEPs are proposing a strict procedure for the creation of trust funds for external actions and subjecting these to the scrutiny of the discharge procedure.
They also oppose plans to remove the 'no-profit principle' (whereby the recipients of grants are not allowed to make profits on EU funds).
The MEPs insist that the Commission carry out an impact assessment whenever it proposes substantial changes to the financial regulation in the future, in order to assess the burden imposed on recipients of EU funds.
The proposal is an integral part of the mid-term revision of the multi-annual framework (MFF) 2014-2020. In a single text, the Commission is proposing a revision of the financial rules together with sectoral modifications featuring in 15 legislative acts concerning the multi-annual programmes. The Commission lays emphasis on: - simplification in favour of recipients of EU funding; - common recourse to audit; - a more efficient use of the financial instruments; - a more flexible budgetary management. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)