Brussels, 31/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Adopting the report by John McCartin (EPP-ED, Irish), the European Parliament recognises that the European Commission has successfully ensured the follow-up for the discharge procedure in the 2000 financial year, but calls for the revision of certain provisions on the sharing of confidential information, considered excessively restrictive. The EP deems that the 2000 financial year has been 'remarkable' due to the number of reforms proposed in the field of the Commission's management, of its financial system and audit, and waits, 'with impatience,' for their implementation.
In April 2002, the Parliament granted the discharge to the Commission for the implementation of the 2000 budget, while warning that it remained vigilant over the cases of fraud in the Spanish linen sector (EUROPE of 11 April and 27 March 2002). The Parliament does not wish to renew the polemic: it merely calls upon the Commission to 'review all the cases of fraud, including the subsidies and payments concerning linen.' The other cases of fraud mentioned concern the adulteration of agricultural products (olive oil and butter) and the ineffective implementation of the milk quota system (notably in Greece, Italy and Spain). More generally, the Parliament regrets that the Commission continues to fail to undertake the recovery of Euro 2.245 billion in Community funds unduly paid, and recalls the persistence of the problem of budgetary surplus (16% of the 2001 budget).
Moreover, the EP approves the dismantling of the Technical Assistance Offices (TAO) foreseen by the Commission reform, but notes that no answer has been provided with regards to the number of offices that will remain in 2003.