Brussels, 20/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - In line with the agreement struck between the three EU institutions at their informal three-way meeting (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.5), the European Commission is expected to adopt a Preliminary Draft Amending Budget on Thursday changing the 2002 Budget to make it possible to find the EUR 4 million required to cover the cash operating expenses of the Convention on the future of Europe (from 1 March 2002 to 31 December 2002). The EUR 4 mil comes under Heading 5 (administrative expenditure) of the Financial Perspectives and will be put in a fund specially set up for the Convention. Michaele Schreyer's spokesperson said on Wednesday that some of this EUR 4 mil had been earmarked to cover unexpected expenditure.
Giving the Convention's structure (sui generi), the rules for the fund do not follow the standard budget management procedures. The adoption of the fund is in the hands of the representatives of governments, once the Council, Parliament and Commission have given their agreement.
The total fund for the Convention stands at EUR 10.5 million, the remaining EUR 6.5 mil covering the logistical costs (meeting rooms, interpreting, translation, printing costs, etc). The Preliminary Draft Budget will be sent to the Permanent Representatives Committee on the same day for its approval. Parliament will give its view on this issue on 27 February, the day before the Convention's first meeting.