Strasbourg, 23/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - Adopting a resolution common to all the political groups on Thursday, the European Parliament strongly criticised the European Commission's attitude in the Eurostat case. This resolution, which was adopted by 271 votes in favour, 194 against and 7 abstentions, recognises that the problems dated from before 1999, but Parliament feels that the current Commission failed to invoke the necessary measures to identify and remedy them in time. Parliament believes that "The Commission failed to learn lessons from the Eurostat affair, contrary to its promises at the beginning of its mandate, it has assumed its political responsibilities neither individually or collectively" (247 in favour, 209against and 4 abstentions). Parliament referred to issues relating to questions raised by this issue about political liability, in terms of financial and administrative management, and of shortcomings in control mechanisms in various services. It called upon the Commission to present proposals to change the Commissioners' code of conduct so that the concept of Commissioners' political liability for services under their jurisdiction means just that. It feels that the Commission President should possess instruments enabling him or her to make sure that the code is being correctly applied. It asks that in the cabinet of each Commissioner, an adviser is given the additional role of helping his or her Commissioner on issues related to budgetary control in the relevant directorate general, and to work with the cabinet of the Commissioner in charge of budgetary issues.