Amending budget 1/2010: impact of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty for the European Parliament

On 19 March 2010, the Commission presented draft amending budget (DAB) No 1 to the general budget for 2010.

DAB No 1/2010 covers the impact related to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on the administrative expenditure of the European Parliament. Additional budgetary and human resources are requested in order to enable the European Parliament to provide its Members, committees and political groups with the means necessary due to the extension of the codecision procedure and an increased legislative activity.

The main elements of DAB No 1/2010 are:

• reinforcement of the committees' secretariats and of the Directorate for the Relations with National Parliaments by the creation of a total of 75 additional permanent posts (+53 AD 5 posts and +22 AST 1 posts) for an amount of EUR 2.3 million;
• reinforcement of the assisting capacity of political groups through the creation of 75 additional temporary posts (+53 AD 5 posts and +22 AST 1 posts) for an amount of EUR 2.3 million;
• reinforcement of personal assistance to Members through an increase in their secretariat allowances for an amount of EUR 8.8 million;
• decrease of the buildings reserve for an amount of EUR 4 million.

The net financial impact of DAB No 1/2010 is EUR 9.4 million. It would also increase the revenue accruing from new staff by EUR 1.4 million.

On 18 May 2010, the Council adopted its position on draft amending budget No. 1 for the financial year 2010 as set out in the technical annex to its explanatory memorandum. It approved the DAB as submitted by the Commission, with no amendments.