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Amending budget 2/2008: Adjustments for ERDF, EAFRD and EFF, modifications to the establishment plans of the EMEA and the EMSA

2008/2080(BUD)

The European Parliament adopted, unamended, by 498 votes to 16, with 7 abstentions, Draft amending budget No 2/2008.

The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Kyösti VIRRANKOSKI (ALDE, FI) on behalf of the Committee on Budgets.

This amending budget No 2/2008 covers the following elements:

  • inclusion into the 2008 budget of unused commitment appropriations for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), arising from delays in the implementation of the first year of the multiannual financial framework 2007-2013. This entails an increase in commitment appropriations of EUR 378 million for sub-heading 1b (Cohesion for Growth and Employment) and of EUR 393.6 million for Heading 2 (Preservation and Management of Natural Resources);
  • modifications to the establishment plan of two EU agencies (European Medicines Agency and European Maritime Safety Agency).

The Parliament recalls that it had put part of the administrative expenditure linked with the structural funds and rural development in reserve in Budget 2008 in order to accelerate the approval of operational programmes. However, it notes that some operational programmes of ERDF have not been dealt with by the Commission and is worried about the delays in approval of operational programmes of rural development, one of Parliament's political priorities. It notes, however, that all operational programmes of the European Social Fund have been approved.

At the same time, the Parliament notes that the under-implementation in 2007 in headings 1b and 2 amounted to EUR 3 525 million, of which EUR 1 491 million were carried forward to 2008, and EUR 2 034 million should be transferred (under point 48 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006) to later years.