2011/2017(BUD)
2012 budget: priorities - other sections
AFCO | AFET | AGRI | BUDG | CONT | CULT | DEVE | ECON | EMPL | ENVI | FEMM | IMCO | INTA | ITRE | JURI | LIBE | PECH | PETI | REGI | TRAN | |
Lead Rapporteur | FERNANDES José Manuel (EPP) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Lead | BUDG | FERNANDES José Manuel (EPP) | |
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Activites
- #3088
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2011/05/17
Council Meeting
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2011/03/09
Parliament's opinion on budgetary estimates/guidelines
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T7-0088/2011
summary
The European Parliament adopted by 574 votes to 74, with 29 abstentions, a resolution on the guidelines for the 2012 budget procedure for the other institutions. It recalls that the ceiling for heading 5 of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the EU's budget in 2012 is EUR 8 754 million (representing an increase of EUR 340 million, or 4%, compared to 2011, including 2% for inflation). Members note that in its capacity as colegislator Parliament has decided to find a reasonable match between its human resources and its new competences following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (19.67% of the heading 5 total in 2009, 19.99% in 2010 and 20.03% in 2011). General framework and priorities for the 2012 budget: Members underline the difficult situation with respect to the heading 5 expenditure ceiling for 2012, and is fully aware of the fact that the institutions may encounter problems in meeting all financing requirements while maintaining budgetary discipline. In a context of economic crisis, the heavy burden of public debt and restraint in times of ongoing national budgetary consolidation efforts, the European Parliament and the other institutions should show budgetary responsibility and self-restraint. Parliament feels that that its goal should be to develop legislative excellence and that all the necessary resources should be available for this purpose. At the same time, it takes the view that the budget of Parliament and the other institutions for 2012 should be a budget of consolidation, not least because it may also serve as a reference for the next multiannual financial framework. Consolidation effort should not, however, prevent investments (e.g. in technology). The principles of good management, namely economy, efficiency and effectiveness; are viewed as another priority in the budget of the Parliament and of the other institutions. In this connection, Members consider that that thought should be given to the advantages of centralisation, so as to generate economies of scale (e.g.: centralised procurement, shared services between the institutions), as well as to what should remain, or be, decentralised. To strengthen budgetary rigour, they request the submission of an organisation chart for each institution, together with the respective cost of each constituent unit. They request, moreover, that each expense be clearly specified and justified, with a clear distinction between fixed and variable expenses in order to fulfil the principles of a zero-based budget. They also consider that, at the latest starting from the next multiannual financial framework, Parliament's budget and the budgets of the other institutions should be the result of multiannual planning covering the duration of that framework. Members go on to ask that the budget : integrate the prospect of a possible enlargement of the EU to Croatia ; take into account environmental policy and EMAS so far as possible; take in to account the need for a fully integrated knowledge management system and an ambitious and far-reaching digital strategy with regard to the Web 2.0 tools and social networks, and electronic governance; use teleworking where appropriate and considers the introduction of a cloud computing system to reduce the operating costs of the computer system, improve its performance and bring greater mobility to Parliament's work. Parliament also asks for use to be made of staff redeployment and of retraining in order to enhance mobility as well as for active non-discrimination policies to ensure easier access for people with disabilities. Parliament: with regard to its own budget, Members take the view that Parliament's goal should be to develop legislative excellence and show budgetary responsibility and self-restraint by staying around the inflation rate. Stressing budgetary rigour, Parliament requests a detailed and clear overview of those budget lines that were under-implemented in 2010 and looks forward to analysing the reasons for this. It also wishes to receive an account of all carry-overs and their use in 2010, as well as an update on the final assigned revenues compared to the amounts that were budgeted. With regard to the future enlargement of the EU and its consequences for the institutions, the resolution notes that for Parliament this will be marked by the arrival of the 18 new MEPs following the Lisbon Treaty will be integrated by an amending letter or amending budget. Members consider that they must be given access to quality services in order to be able to perform their duties on an equal footing, and stress the importance of equal treatment of Members of all nationalities and languages in terms of possibility for them to carry out the duties and political activity incumbent upon them in their own language if they wish. They find for instance, the absence of interpretation in committee meetings to be unacceptable. They are also of the opinion that all means must be sought to increase the flexibility of interpretation as a crucial step in ensuring good working practices. Members also request the following: a thorough review should be implemented as to whether the right of freedom of access for European citizens to meet with their European representatives could be more effectively matched with the urgent need to provide security for those who work in the institutions; a fully functioning wifi service and the use of videoconferencing for meetings; the need for further information regarding the House of European History (a detailed business plan, the global cost of this project as well as further information regarding the architectural design competition which has been ongoing since 2009); information and communication policy reaching all European citizens; follow-up action in relation to a number of policies with financial implications, such as EMAS, public procurement and action taken in response to budget discharge recommendations. On the matter of buildings, Parliament reiterates its call for the development of a long-term buildings strategy. It recalls that by decision of 24 March 2010 the Bureau adopted Parliament's medium-term buildings strategy, which sets out some key parameters for its future property policy. As part of that strategy Parliament had decided to continue to give priority to the purchase of buildings (where reasonable), focusing on geographical concentration in its places of work and stressed that early payment, with a view to reducing financing costs, remains one of the key priorities for the future. In this connection, Members recall that the KAD extension project currently under way, the cost of which is estimated at about EUR 549.6 million, will allow the geographical concentration of Parliament's Administration in Luxembourg, thus enabling substantial savings to be made once the project is completed. Parliament believes that, as is the case for all big organisations, an independent external viewpoint on how resources are used and how work is organised is sometimes necessary. While stressing that a political European institution such as Parliament is unique in character, it considers that, in the long term, consideration should be given to carrying out such an external analysis. Lastly, it is concerned about the proposal to create a European Added Value Assessment Unit to measure the cost of non-Europe. Members question whether such an office is necessary and request more detailed information regarding the creation of this office. Other institutions: Members call for realistic and cost-based budget requests from the other institutions which take full account of the need to manage scarce resources in an optimal way. They welcome the establishment of a new Section X in the EU budget for the European External Action Service, with an allocation of EUR 464 million.
- Results of vote in Parliament
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T7-0088/2011
summary
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2011/03/08
Debate in Parliament
- 2011/03/04 Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
- 2011/03/04 Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
- 2011/03/03 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
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2011/02/17
Deadline Amendments
- 2011/01/31 Committee draft report
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2011/01/17
EP officialisation
Documents
- Committee draft report: PE456.882
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0049/2011
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0049/2011
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0088/2011
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
Amendments | Dossier |
47 |
2011/2017(BUD) 2012 budget: priorities - other sections
2011/02/18
BUDG
47 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas, with Croatia’s accession scheduled for 2013, enlargement will have an impact on the budget for 2012, particularly as regards resources for the new Members and staff recruitment,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Recital M M. whereas by decision of 24 March 2010 the Bureau adopted Parliament’s medium- term buildings strategy, which sets out some key parameters for its future property policy; whereas as part of that strategy Parliament has decided to continue to give priority to the purchase of buildings (where reasonable), focusing on geographical concentration in its
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Recital M a (new) Ma. whereas the problems of assuring security within the institutions has been highlighted in recent weeks (for example, in the European Parliament), action urgently being needed to ensure a proper balance between personal security on the one hand and the right of the ease of access on the other,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Underlines the difficult situation with respect to the heading 5 expenditure ceiling for 2012, and is fully aware of the fact that the institutions may encounter problems in meeting all financing requirements while maintaining budgetary discipline and self- restraint in order to comply with the multiannual financial framework;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Sets the principle of
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Points out that this effort for consolidation should not prevent investments (e.g. in technology) which would result in future long term savings;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Views as another priority the principles of good management (Article 27 of the Financial Regulation), namely economy, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness; takes the view that these principles should be
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Believes that accuracy, simplicity, clarity and transparency must be the result of the implementation of the principles of good management; requests
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that Parliament and the other institutions should
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that Parliament and the other institutions should submit
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Takes the view that potential areas where savings can be made should also be offset against investments in new technologies to evaluate the total benefit;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Reiterates that interinstitutional cooperation, whenever possible and appropriate, is essential in order to exchange best practices that favour effectiveness and allow for savings; considers that interinstitutional cooperation should be improved as regards translation, interpretation, recruitment (EPSO) and EMAS and should be extended to other areas; requests that there should be a thorough review of the freelancing for translation and the role of the translation centre;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Recalls the need for a fully integrated knowledge management system;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Calls for a ‘one-stop shop’ for Members’ casework queries regarding issues in other Member States to be integrated in to the knowledge management system;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Takes the view that Parliament and the other institutions should develop an electronic governance strategy as well as an ambitious and far-reaching digital strategy, in particular with regard to Web 2.0; calls for teleworking to be used where
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Asks for use to be made of staff redeployment and of retraining in order to enhance mobility; recommends that new staff only be recruited after internal re
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Believes that all the institutions should have active non-discrimination policies and should adapt their buildings and human resources policies to ensure eas
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Believes that Parliament should show budgetary responsibility and restraint in times of ongoing national budgetary consolidation efforts;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Takes the view that Parliament’s goal should be to develop legislative excellence and that all the necessary resources should be available for this purpose, while respecting budgetary constraints;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Emphasises that in a context of economic crisis and a heavy burden of public debt, the European Parliament and the other European institutions should show an example by freezing the amount of budgetary expenditure for 2012;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Considers that the additional staffing resources allocated to Parliament’s Administration to face the new challenges arising from the Lisbon Treaty should now enter a consolidation phase; insists that organisational structures should be such that they foster the creation of synergies by drawing on the respective expertise of existing specialised units;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Points out that Parliament’s budget for 2011 amounts to EUR 1 685 m., representing 20.03% of heading 5; recalls that an analysis of future budgetary needs is to be submitted before this percentage rises;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20a. Expects the Bureau to submit realistic requests when presenting the estimates; is ready to examine its proposals on a fully needs-based and prudent basis in order to ensure an appropriate and efficient functioning of the institution; stresses that the purpose of the amending letter presented by the Bureau to the Committee on Budgets in September is to take into account needs unforeseen at the time the estimates were drawn up and stresses that it should not be seen as an opportunity to renew estimates previously agreed;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20a. Is expecting the Bureau to submit realistic requests when presenting the estimates and is ready to examine its proposals on a fully needs-based and prudent basis in order to ensure an appropriate and efficient functioning of the institution;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 b (new) 20b. Takes note of the proposed 5,2 % increase for the European Parliament’s 2012 budget as compared to the 2011 budget; considers, however, that in the present economic context this increase must be reduced in order to reflect efforts being made by Member States to make savings in public administration;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 b (new) 20b. Requests a detailed and clear overview of those budget lines that were under-implemented in 2010 and looks forward to analysing the reasons for this; also wishes to receive an account of all carry-overs and their use in 2010, as well as an update on the final assigned revenues compared to the amounts that were budgeted;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 c (new) 20c. Highlights the fact that the timetable foreseen for the approval of the guidelines and the draft estimates for the EP budget 2012 will not allow the report on the guidelines to be adopted in plenary before the adoption of the draft estimates by the Bureau and thus not allow Members to work in a proper and informed way;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Considers that Members must be given access to quality services in order to be able to perform their duties on an equal footing; stresses, therefore, the importance of
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Is also of the opinion that all means must be sought to increase the flexibility of interpretation as a crucial step to ensure good working practices and notes that, in many instances, problems and financial wastage could be avoided if there were a possibility to swap languages at short notice depending on the actual attendance at meetings rather than the planned attendance;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Points out that in contrast to other parliament buildings across the globe, access to the EP institutions, in particular in Brussels, can be very frustrating and time-consuming owing to the elaborate procedures currently in force for the access of people into the building; believes that such an approach inimical to an open approach to welcoming European citizens to what are public buildings; urges that a thorough review should be implemented as to the right of freedom of access to European citizens to meet with their European representatives could be more effectively matched with the urgent need of providing security for those who work within the institutions;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Considers that for 2012, and taking into account the current budgetary constraints, no assistants allowance increase should be considered, besides that due to inflation indexation;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 b (new) 21b. Stresses that the current Members allowances’ system should be revised in order to avoid, on travelling days, the combination of the daily allowance with the time allowance; furthermore, considers that the revision of the Members allowances’ system is essential in order to duly adjust the daily allowance to the days in which effectively the Members are carrying out their parliamentarian activity;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Takes the view that, as already decided, a fully functioning wifi service must be implemented so as to enable the goal of reducing the use of paper to be met; considers that the use of videoconferencing for meetings should be encouraged, as should the use of new environmentally friendly technologies; requests a cost benefit analysis of such measures;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Underlines the need for further information regarding the House of European History; in particular, calls for a detailed business plan to be submitted to the Committee on Budgets; reiterates the need to receive information concerning the global cost of this project as well as the future financial and legal implications for the EP and requests further information regarding the architectural design competition which has been ongoing since 2009; stresses that all decisions relating to the project are subject to standard parliamentary procedure;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Points out that significant savings, not least on buildings, could be made if the Parliament were to consolidate its presence in Brussels and make the Strasbourg premises available to the European Economic and Social Committee and/or the Committee of the Regions;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Believes that, as is the case for all big organisations, an independent external viewpoint on how resources are used and how work is organised is sometimes necessary and can only be beneficial if handled correctly; while stressing that a political European institution such as Parliament is unique in character, considers that, in the long term, consideration should be given to carrying out such an external analysis of its organisation and management; believes that in 2012 some specific sector(s) could be identified and examined in this way;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Points out that Parliament’s information and communication policy is important and should reach all European citizens as well as improve citizens’ ability to interact directly with the Parliament, and therefore requests that the results attained with this policy be evaluated;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 a (new) 27a. Is concerned by the proposal to create a Parliamentary Budget Office to measure the cost of non-Europe; questions whether such an office is necessary; requests more detailed information regarding the creation of this office;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28. Calls for realistic and cost-based budget requests from the other institutions which take full account of the need to manage scarce resources in an optimal way; welcomes the establishment of a new Section X in the EU budget for the European External Action Service, with an allocation of EUR 464 m.
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 a (new) 28a. Believes that the establishment of a new Section X in the EU budget for the European External Action Service responds to the need to provide the European Union with an institutional framework which, together with the new CFSP/CSDP provisions, can support the EU’s ambitions in foreign policy;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 b (new) 28b. Regrets that in spite of this promising institutional framework, the proposed allocation of administrative resources for the European External Action Service (EEAS) can aggravate the chronic underfunding of external relations policies if no fresh money is foreseen to fund the one-third target for national diplomats; asks the Commission and the Council to clarify the impact of the EEAS on the budget;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 c (new) 28c. In order to maintain the principle of budgetary neutrality, considers that savings that Member States might make through the setting-up of the EEAS (since the suppression of certain national diplomatic services has already been foreseen) should be invested in funding the proper functioning of the EEAS to enable this new instrument to efficiently achieve its goals;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 d (new) 28d. Is convinced that increased budgetary resources are not sufficient to guarantee the effectiveness of the EU’s external action - greater flexibility and rapidity in disbursing financial assistance are also required; calls, therefore, for greater flexibility between headings and above such headings of the financial perspectives;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 e (new) 28e. Strongly believes that savings can be made by identifying overlaps and inefficiencies across all headings and flagging up areas where results are not in line with the expectations and the requests of the European Parliament;
source: PE-458.814
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