Brussels, 15/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - At Wednesday's Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) an agreement on the draft 2003 budget was reached on the basis of the compromise devised by the Budgetary Committee (see EUROPE 3 July p 6). The following day, the three institutions' (Council, Commission and Parliament) "budgetary trialogue" was the venue for discussions about important themes for the Council's first reading on 19 July, such as administrative expenditure, foreign and common security policy (CFSP). Below is a brief résumé of the subjects discussed.
- Administrative expenditure: The two branches of the budgetary authority opposed the use of the flexibility instrument in order to remain within the set financial perspective ceilings (see EUROPE 13 July p 8). The Council wants increasing spending discipline "excluding pensions" and refused the 500 additional posts requested by the Commission to prepare for enlargement, recommending instead a redeployment of posts (which would enable it to obtain a sufficient margin within the ceiling and subsequently respond to other possible needs). The Parliament is proposing to make some economies in 2003 by already anticipating spending for 2002 and thus relieving the load for 2003
- CFSP: Coreper has already planned to increase its commitment appropriations to CFSP in 2003 (from EUR 40 million - EUR 47.5 million in relation to the Commission's preliminary project) and EUR 2 million in appropriations for payments (from EUR 48 -EUR 50 million) to meet the needs resulting from the police operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and for helping third countries in the war on terrorism. The European Parliament does not to increase additional and non-compensatory loads to CFSP.
- Within the context of the 2002 budget, the planning team that is currently in Sarajevo has provided initial estimates. The team is assessing the possibility of additional needs of EUR 10-12 million (Community loans) to guarantee the relief of the UNMIBH the United Nations Mission in Bosnia. Ms Schreyer's services will still have to adopt a proposal for processing loans for this end, when final estimates (still only provisional) are made. EUR 8 million will have to be provided by Member States for personnel expenditure.
- Agriculture: The Parliament has asked the Council to justify the proposed reduction of EUR 275 million for certain market expenses, while proposing an increase in loans for certain programmes such as the fight against Epizootic Diseases.
- The Council insisted on controlling the increase in the amount of payment appropriations to take into account the cases where loans have not been executed, commitments outstanding and constraints on national budgets.
