2003 budget: other sections

At the time of the adoption of the draft 2003 budget by the Council, a declaration was made relating to the nomenclature of the EDF and its possible integration in the Community budget. The Council thus decided that, as in the past, the nomenclature of the European Development Funds (EDF) would not be modified and that the EDF would continue to be financed by national contributions. It should be noted that the declaration adopted by Conference of Representatives of the Governments of the Member States and annexed to the final decision relating to the Treaty on the European Union states: "the Conference is of the opinion that the EDFs will continue to be financed by national contributions in accordance with the current provisions". It should also be noted that the Council congratulates the good level of good level of payments in 2001. With a level of payments reaching 2.067,86 mios EUR in 2001, the execution of the EDF recorded the highest level which has never been reached and confirms the recovery of the payments started in 1998, thanks to the entry into force of 8th FED. On the other hand, commitments are very weak with a net value of 1.554 mios EUR compared to the achievements in 2000 (3.757 mios EUR) which was a record. The provisions for 2002 were revised, mainly for the payments. It is revealed that the level, envisaged in November of 2001, may not be able to be reached. On the basis of an analysis of the documents in progress, the Commission is counting on an amount of 2.000 mios EUR for the payments as well as for the decisions, against respectively 2.345 mios EUR and 2.100 mios EUR estimated at the end of 2001. The reductions relate to programmable assistance and also to a lack of financial resources, following the delay in the ratification of the Cotonou agreement. Consequently, whereas the Commission had foreseen to have to call on national contributions for the sum of 2.000 mios EUR, it now considers that an amount of 1.800 mios EUR should be sufficient to cover the needs. Lastly, for the year 2003, the Commission expects decisions and payments in the order of about 2.500 mios EUR. By taking account of the balances at the beginning and the end of the financial year considered to be necessary, the amount of the contributions which the Member States should transfer in 2003 is estimated at 2.300 mios EUR.�