Brussels, 09/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - With the exception of Greece, which stigmatises the possible delays in the engagement credits for its Objective 1 programmes, most of the Member States, gathered within the Budgetary Committee, on Thursday, showed themselves to be prepared to accept the new table for the allocation of unused funds for structural actions, suggested by the European Commission, for as much as the latter officially assumes responsibility, indicated a responsible for the dossier (see EUROPE of 35 April, p.8). As a reminder, the Commission suggested to share out, in a relatively balanced manner, over to 2002/2006 period, the unused structural funds budgets in 2000 (EUR 6.152 billion), except those from the Objective 1 programmes (EUR 3.588 billion), more concentrated in 2004 and 2005 (around EUR 1.4 billion for each year). The Swedish Presidency should begin talks with the EP, on the basis of this compromise, while trying to smooth out this problem that is posed by the Greek delegation.
For all the structural actions (Objective 1 and 2 funds, Community initiatives and FIFG in the fishing sector), the Commission is proposing the transfer of the following budgets: 2002: EUR 439 million; 2003: EUR 568 million; 2004: EUR 2.145 billion; 2005: 1.934 billion; 2006: 1.067 billion. For the Objective 1 funds: 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: EUR 1.435 billion; 2005: EUR 1.434 billion; 2006: EUR 717.7 million.
In virtue of the provisions of the interinstitutional agreement of May 1999, the branches of the budgetary authority must find, before 1 May (probably during the EP plenary session on 2/3 May in Brussels), a favourable solution to the adaptation of the financial prospects to the unused credits in the structural actions. This theme will be included in the agenda of the parliamentary Budgetary Control Committee (COCOBU), next 24 April.