Strasbourg, 18/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 12 May in Strasbourg the European Parliament adopted the report of Valdis Domrovski (EPP-ED, Latvia), which identified the EP budgetary priorities for 2006: appropriate preparation for enlargement in 2007 (as well as consolidation of that of 2004), reinforcement of its information policy and linguistic services.
The EP is concerned by the fact that a high number of posts linked to enlargement in the 2004-05 budgets have still not been provided and that only 78% of them probably will be filled by the end of 2005. It wants its Secretary General to produce proposals for resolving the problem of vacant posts in the linguist sector. MEPs formally recorded the proposals to include EUR 13.8 million for the budgetary posts proposed for pre-accession preparation with Romania and Bulgaria (observers, personnel, conference interpreters and technicians, equipment, operational and information expenditure). They also formally recorded the proposals to create 137 post linked to enlargement: 113 posts at the Parliament Secretariat and 22 posts at the groups and made the provision that further detailed justifications for the proposed posts, would include the necessary funding in the first reading.
Bringing Parliament closer to its citizens: proposals for reinforcing the Parliament's information and communication policy are currently being prepared. The EP is eagerly awaiting the Bureau's proposals on the Parliament's general communication strategy and the role of the information offices. The EP considers that the Europarl website needed to be more user-friendly.
Parliament work efficiency: the EP formally recorded the Secretary General's proposals to consolidate reform of Parliament's administrative apparatus - “operation “setting the bar higher” is a way of improving services provided by MEPs.
Personnel policy: it is essential, according to MEPs, that personnel recruitment procedures improved, simplified and speeded up so that “extremely long” delays are avoided. They also point out with some concern that 750 posts at Secretariat of the Parliament have not been provided and that 150 other posts are occupied by auxiliary workers on contracts.
General level of Parliamentary budget: the EP points out that in the preliminary draft forecast, the Secretary General proposed to set the level of the budget, at this stage, at 20% of section 5 (administration) for financial perspectives, which corresponded to EUR 1341,6 million, which represented an increase of 5.5% on the 2005 budget. It formally took note of the proposal to plan for a margin of EUR 90.4 million in the reserve for unexpected phenomena until new priorities are set out. MEPs point out that Parliament's policy consisting of purchasing its main buildings has led to significant economies and calls for an updated real estate policy for short and long term acquisition of buildings and information offices and Houses of Europe. Parliament reveals some of the uncertainties that exist on the subject of real estate in Brussels and Luxembourg, uncertainties that could have a significant effect on the budget.