Brussels, 19/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - In addition to its postponement of the discharge for the Commission (general budget of the Union for 1998) and for the budget of Parliament itself, the EP has adopted three specific discharge reports.
1. With its adoption of the report by Heidi Rühle (Greens, Germany), the European Parliament postponed the discharge for the 1998 budgets of the European Development Fund (EDF) and the Economic and Social Committee, but granted discharge for the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the European Centre for Vocational Training, the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors and the Committee of the Regions.
The Rühle report denounces shortcomings in the management and evaluation of EDF spending. It calls on the Commission to appoint personnel to its delegations in the ACP states with the necessary qualifications and experience in project management and supervision. The Commission is also asked to present an annual report on the results of its programmes and their "added value".
Postponement of the discharge for the Economic and Social Committee is matched with a request that the conclusions of the OLAF investigation be forwarded to the EP. Parliament criticises the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions "for failing to demonstrate the diligence required in relation to their move" to the Belliard complex: "the Union's budget is suffering on account of the present situation" since rent is being paid for both the complex and the buildings currently occupied by the two Committees.
2. The European Parliament granted discharge to the Commission for implementation of the 1998 budget of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC, Khanbai report), while requesting that it forward by 15 August 2000 the OLAF report on allegations of fraud, a report on furnishings acquired through ECSC funds and a report on loans to civil servants out of ECSC funds.
3. With its adoption of the Mulder (ELDR, Netherlands) report, the European Parliament granted discharge to the Commission for decisions on the clearance of accounts for 1993, 1994 and 1995 of the Guarantee section of the EAGGF. However, the EP excludes the "flax" and "Fléchard" cases from this discharge and requests that the reports by the Court of Auditors (Fléchard) and OLAF (Spanish flax) be forwarded to it at an early date.