Brussels, 01/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The EP and its rapporterur Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL, Denmark) have welcomed the European Commission's efforts to respond in a relatively short period to its comments on the questions and observations raised by the Parliament in its decision on the discharge for 1999 tax year. In its resolution, the EP indicated the fields in which it required further information (see EUROPE 25-26 February page 16).
During the debate, rapporteur, Freddy Blak greeted the Commissioner for budgetary affairs with a "Bravo", in consideration of the progress achieved, while still calling for greater Parliamentary access to Commission documents. Michaele Schreyer declared that access to documentation had improved but admitted that there could be no guarantee that the European Court of Auditors would give a positive assurance for credit payments. Austrian Social Democrat, Herbert Bösch was more critical of the Commission for having played a "childish game of hide and seek" with the EP. CSU MEP Gabriele Stauner demanded that Parliament had the right to access all documents and the Commission should not create any obstacles. She quoted the example of the Leonardo report where the German press had information about it and that the Parliament should have the right to it too.