Strasbourg, 24/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday the EP held a new style debate on the 2003 draft budget, following a brief general debate, the Commissioners had their word. Each time it was the Commissioner responsible who answered, explained and clarified. EUROPE will be looking at this issue later.
There was a new feature that characterised this debate, asserted the President off the budgets Committee, British Labour Party member, Terence Wynn: this id not to b found in the Committee vote but before this vote (next week) and should therefore allow real dialogue and greater participation by MEPs. Administrative flexibility for meeting the demands of enlargement and disasters, use of non-utilised resources, assurances that new expenditure cannot be decided on unless the resources are there: here are the priorities for the 2003 budget, according to the rapporteur, Swedish Social Democrat, Göran Färm. The institutions must cop-operate in enlargement preparation, insisted co-rapporteur Peer Steenmark (Swedish Member of the EPP-ED), as well as the refusal of the EP and the Council to grant new posts to the Commission. At this stage of the debate, the reply of the Council has been very succinct: the Danish Minister of Finance, Thor Pedersen, confirmed the desire of the Presidency to reach a practical compromise by pointing out he priorities: enlargement and external missions (notably the UN police missions in Bosnia). Michalele Schreyer quoted three main points: the CFSP, the Mediterranean area and sustainable development in all its aspects (energy, agriculture; research, structural reforms). Ms Schreyer acknowledged that the non-used loans in former budgets are very important but she allocated responsibility to Member States for it: the execution, she claimed would be better in 2003. She explained that sufficient personnel would be needed for carrying out policy.
The EPP-ED groups according to the clear demands of James Elles (UK), wanted information on this issue, as well as the way in which the Commission intended to put into place its internal reform. As soon as it has the information sought by Mr Elles, the Parliament will agree to more posts requested by the Commission that will occur over different stages (see p 12). Disaster prevention, action to encourage job creation and SMEs were what Ralf Walter wanted to see on behalf of his Socialist group. The Liberal group of Kyösti Virrankoski appealed for the improved execution of the budget and the simplification of how the structural funds work. Enlargement concerns all the institutions, confirmed Esko Seppänen speaking for the European United Left/Nordic Green Alliance, adding that "contrary to others", his group fully supported the Commissions reform projects for the CAP and fisheries policy. Kathalijne Buitenweg (Greens/EFA) regretted that the staff shortage meant that reaching the objectives of sustainable development was not possible. The President of the Europe of Democracies and Differences, Jens Peter Bonde, denounced the "scandalous treatment of taxpayers money" in the Union budget and called for the umpteenth time for transparency and vigour.