Summary of the meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets (COBU) held in Brussels on 4-5 November 2009 - Main contents

Document date	12-11-2009
Publication date	16-11-2009
Reference	15655/09
From	General Secretariat of the Council
To	Delegations
External link	original PDF
Original document in PDF

COUNCIL OF Brussels, 12 November 2009

THE EUROPEAN UNION

15655/09

PE 326 FIN 448 INST 154

NOTE from : General Secretariat of the Council to : Delegations Subject: Summary of the meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets

(COBU) held in Brussels on 4-5 November 2009

The meeting was chaired by Mr LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR).

(the numbering refers to the items as listed on the agenda)

BUDGET 2010

ITEM 4. Outcome of the trilogue of 15 October and preparation of the trilogue of 12

November, amending letter No 2/2009 to the preliminary draft budget 2010, Presentation of a working document on Heading 5 possibly

Rapporteurs: László Surján (EPP) and Vladimír Maňka (S-D)

ITEM 6. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council concerning the revision of the multiannual financial framework (2007-2013) Financing projects in the field of energy in the context of the European Economic Recovery Plan (second revision) (Exchange of views)

• - 

  Rapporteur: Reimer Böge (EPP)

These two points were taken jointly.

The Commission (Mr JOUANJEAN, Director-General DG BUDG) briefly presented its recent proposals on preliminary draft amending budget 10/2009, letter of amendment 2/2010, the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework and the legal basis for the decommissioning of Kozloduy nuclear power plant.

Mr SURJÁN (EPP, HU) expressed his relative satisfaction with the Commission's package of proposals and his belief that there was a good chance for a final agreement with the Council. In his words, the Parliament was close to "win" on two important points - the European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP) and the measures in favour of the dairy sector. Nevertheless he pointed out some points of concern regarding first the fact that the Commission did not propose the use of the Flexibility Instrument; secondly that the part of the EERP still to be financed was still preliminary at this stage and finally that in the dairy sector, a legal basis broader than the one proposed in the letter of amendment was needed to be adopted under the co-decision procedure. Lastly, he mentioned that the Parliament would prepare some alternative proposals.

In the exchange of views that followed, the Committee members did not fully share the rapporteur's fairly optimistic view.

Mr GARRIGA POLLEDO (EPP, ES) considered that the letter of amendment had more negative than positive points, particularly since it did not take into account the Parliament's position in its first reading by using "unallocated margins of non adopted budgets". More specifically, he criticised further cuts under sub-heading 1a and heading 2 as well as the suggested use of margins for 2011 and the Kozloduy proposal. These views were then echoed by several Committee members.

Mr FÄRM (S-D, SE) stated that Parliament's priorities were being simply wiped out, what was not acceptable. Furthermore, he was very critical of the Commission not implementing the increases in payment appropriations voted by the Parliament for 2009. He suggested that the Flexibility Instrument should be used to the maximum. Regarding the dairy sector, both Mr FÄRM and Ms HAUG (S-D, DE) emphasised that it was not so much a question of money as it was a question of an appropriate legal basis.

Ms JENSEN (ALDE, DK) joined others in stating that the Commission's proposals ignored the

Parliament's vote in its first reading.

Ms TRÜPEL (GREENS, DE) spoke against using the 2011 margins.

Mr BÖGE (EPP, DE) asked the Commission whether it was true that certain measures for the dairy sector had been recently suspended and requested the list of such measures.

In its answer, the Commission (Mr JOUANJEAN) stated that its proposals concerning the financing of the EERP were fully in line with the joint declaration agreed at the trilogue of 2 April 2009. Regarding Mr BÖGE's question, the Commission promised a written answer.

ITEM 5. Transitional procedural guidelines on budgetary matters in view of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty BUDG/7/01377 2009/2168(INI) and ITEM 7. Transitional procedural guidelines on budgetary matters in view of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty BUDG/7/01377 2009/2168(INI)

Rapporteur: Mr LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR)

Mr LAMASSOURE presented his draft report and mentioned that the Swedish Presidency had proposed to find a political agreement on this point at the conciliation of 19 November 2009. Therefore he stressed that it was essential for the Parliament's delegation to have a mandate for the upcoming negotiation. In the debate which followed, Mr GARRIGA POLLEDO stressed the need to include the issue of the provisional twelfths in the draft report.

Ms GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE) and Mr FÄRM said that the point on the simplified procedure regarding the transfers was misleading and needed to be either clarified or deleted.

Mr FÄRM also indicated that limiting the current number of amending budgets might be risky, with respect to European Union Solidarity Fund mobilisations and other emergency actions.

Furthermore, according to him, the proposal for the revision of the Financial Regulation and the proposal for a Decision on the Multiannual Financial Framework should be treated as a package.

Other Committee members (Ms HERCZOG (S-D, HU), Ms TRÜPEL) stressed the need for a strong commitment by the Commission not to weaken the Parliament's role in the budgetary procedure, as designed by the Lisbon Treaty.

Ms HAUG, supported by Mr LAMASSOURE, said that the Council should be represented at ministerial level during the budgetary negotiations.

The rapporteur agreed with all points raised during the debate and took them up in the form of five compromise oral amendments to his report. Ms GRÄSSLE proposed a further oral amendment stressing that the current level of transfers to which a simplified procedure applies should remain constant.

The Committee adopted the draft report with all these amendments. The plenary vote on the report is foreseen on 12 November 2009.

BUDGET 2009

ITEM 8. Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : Belgium - textile industry; Ireland - Dell BUDG/7/01150 2009/2135(BUD) COM(2009)0515 i – C7-0208/2009

Rapporteur: Mr BÖGE (EPP, DE)

The rapporteur presented his draft opinion and asked the Commission to confirm that, regarding the Dell case, the closure of the Irish plant was not connected to an investment in Poland, and that, regarding the Belgian case, any possible double financing of the proposed measures from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and from Structural Funds could be excluded. Both doubts were rejected by the Commission.

The draft report was then adopted.

ITEM 9. 2009 budget: Section III - Commission: Global transfer DEC27 in the presence of the Commission possibly, DEC32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41 42, 43, 45, 48 and 51, INFO 05/2009, Other possible transfer requests

Rapporteur: Ms HAUG (S-D, DE)

Global transfer DEC27 was accepted, even though the rapporteur, supported by Ms TRÜPEL, expressed concerns about the low implementation of payment appropriations for several of the European Parliament's priorities. Transfer proposals DEC32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42 and 49/2009 were approved.

The decision on transfer proposals DEC35, 40, 43, 44, 45, 48, 51 and 52/2009 was postponed to the next meeting of the Committee. Concerning transfer DEC35, the Commission was asked to provide more information about the envisaged EU presentation at the Shanghai World Exposition. Before voting on transfer DEC40, COBU expects an opinion of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety whether the reserve can be released.

The Committee decided not to object to transfer INFO 05/2009.

ITEM 10. 2009 Budget: Other Sections: Parliament: C/14, and C/18, Court of Auditors:

V/11/AB/09, Ombudsman: 3/2009, Other possible transfer requests

Rapporteur: Mr LEWANDOWSKI (EPP, PL)

European Parliament transfer requests C13, C14, C16, C19, C20 (for the amended amount of

EUR 7 million) and C23 (for the amended amount of EUR 2 550 000) were approved.

The decision on European Parliament transfer requests C17 and C21 was postponed, pending additional information from the Parliament's administration. Transfer request C18 had been withdrawn.

The Committee decided not to object to

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  Court of Auditors transfer V/11/AB/09,

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  European Ombudsman transfer 3/2009, and

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  Committee of the Regions transfer Inf4/2009.

OPINIONS

ITEM 11. European Microfinance Facility for Employment and Social Inclusion (Progress)

BUDG/7/00376

***I 2009/0096(COD) COM(2009)0333 i – C7-0053/2009

Rapporteur: Mr LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR)

ITEM 12. Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - Progress

BUDG/7/00382

***I 2009/0091(COD) i COM(2009)0340 i – C7-0052/2009

Rapporteur: Mr LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR)

Both draft opinions for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs were adopted without any amendments.

ITEM 13. European Year of Volunteering (2011)

BUDG/7/00316

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  2009/0072(CNS) i COM(2009)0254 i – C7-0054/2009

Rapporteur: Ms MATERA (EPP, IT)

The rapporteur, when presenting her draft opinion, emphasised that the Committee on Culture and Education had proposed to increase the total amount allocated to the European Year of Volunteering to EUR 10 million. In her draft opinion she suggested to reduce the co-financing rate from 80% to 65% in order to increase the number of applications which could benefit from a Community grant.

Ms CARVALHO (EPP, PT) and Mr GARRIGA POLLEDO criticised that such suggestion would be contrary to decisions recently taken on other Community programmes for which the rates of Community contribution were increased.

The Commission pointed out that the allocated amount would be mainly used for the coordination of projects at national level. The Commission clarified that neither an increase in the allocated amount nor a modified co-financing rate would have an impact on the programmes themselves.

The Committee will vote on the draft opinion and on possible amendments at its meeting on

16 November 2009.

BUILDING POLICIES

ITEM 14. European Chemicals Agency: Notification under Article 96(11) of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 i

The European Chemicals Agency outlined its intention to rent additional office space and to perform renovation work at an estimated cost of EUR 4.9 million, to be financed from its 2009 budget.

Mr GARRIGA POLLEDO asked for more details on the rental and renovation costs and requested an update on the Agency's project to create a conference centre.

The Committee will vote on the possible issue of an opinion at its next meeting on

16 November 2009.

BUDGET 2009

ITEM 15. Preliminary draft amending budget 10/2009 (Exchange of views)

Rapporteur: Ms HAUG (S-D, DE)

This agenda point was not discussed.

ITEM 16. Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (Holland (Heijmans); Sweden (Volvo) and Steiermark (Austria) (First exchange of views)

Rapporteur: Mr BÖGE (EPP, DE)

The rapporteur presented the applications submitted by the three Member States.

Ms JENSEN considered the case submitted by the Netherlands rather as the result of a domestic crisis than a consequence of globalisation. Mr BOKROS (ECR, HU) suggested to look closely into the justifications of the applications, and would have preferred to deal with the problem of globalisation on a territorial basis rather than on a case-by-case approach.

Mr LA VIA (EPP, IT) and Mr GARRIGA POLLEDO pointed out fundamental problems in the setup of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), notably in the distinction between measures financed from the EGF and from Structural Funds, but also in the procedures foreseen in the EGF Regulation.

Following a proposal by the rapporteur, the Committee decided to ask the Commission to present individual proposals for the mobilisation of the EGF, accompanied by the corresponding proposals for transfer of appropriations, for each application enabling a thorough and longer examination of controversial ones, without preventing a rapid approval of less critical cases.

The Commission replied by pointing out that approximately 30 proposals for financial contribution from the EGF would be presented in the coming months. The Commission recalled that Article 12(3) of the EGF Regulation allows the grouping of proposals into batches, and that individual proposals for each application would make the procedure more complex.

OPINION

ITEM 17. Establishment of a financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised countries (amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1934/2006 i) BUDG/7/00011 * 2009/0059(CNS) COM(2009)0197 i – C7-0101/2009

Rapporteur: Mr LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR)

The rapporteur explained his proposed amendments by stressing that, in the current situation of extreme budgetary tension, particular rigour was called for in using appropriations for emerging countries, whose standard of living was in some cases comparable to that of certain Member States, which were important commercial competitors and which had also so far been insufficiently cooperative in seeking a global agreement on Doha and on the post-Kyoto arrangements.

Ms TRÜPEL supported the proposed amendments, while Ms JENSEN considered that they went beyond the budgetary field.

The Committee will vote on this opinion on 16 November 2009.

ITEM 19. Date of next meeting

Monday, 16 November, 15h00-18h30

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