Brussels, 22/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg last Thursday, the European Parliament adopted the report by Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg (Greens/EFA, the Netherlands) on the EP's income and spending provisions for 2002 (see EUROPE of 5 May, p.12 for details). The EP advocates a total of EUR 1.035 million (up 4.8% on the EUR 987 million of the 2001 budget), which amounts to 20% of the total credits outlined for Heading 5 (Administrative Expenditure) in the Financial Perspectives.
MEPs decided to increase the credits for miscellaneous organisational expenses and taking part in conferences, congresses and meetings by EUR 300 000 and support the provision of the credits required to create 12 new temporary B5 positions for the political groupings' secretariats in order to 'meet their requirements following the increasing importance of the EP'.