Brussels, 06/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of the report by Jutta Haug (German Social Democrat) and Markus Ferber (CSU), which mainly covers the draft supplementary and amending budget (SAB) No 4/2001 (on the surplus of budget 2000), the Parliament calls for an increase of EUR 100 million (that is, EUR 450 million, against EUR 350 million according to the Commission proposal) of credits earmarked in favour of the western Balkans (see EUROPE of 29 June, p.17). Budgets Commissioner Michaele Schreyer announced during the debate that she accepted this request.
MEPs trust that the needs arising from the new proposal of macrofinancial assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (EUR 30 million) will be covered by this SAB and that the credits for assistance to the Western Balkans (line B7-541) will be increased by 70 million (EUR 155 million in total, as opposed to EUR 85 million as decided by the Council). We recall that the Commission also proposes in this SAB the reimbursement of a large part of the 2000 to Member States.
The Haug/Ferber Report also concerns SAB No3 on changes to the Commission and OLAF staff. On the subject of the OLAF flow chart, the EP adopted an amendment that modifies the breakdown between permanent and temporary jobs and which provides for the redeployment of 10 officials towards the Commission. It also proposes to modify the table proposed by the Council on the creation of 30 posts for direct and indirect research and technological development actions.