2000 budget : other sections

PURPOSE : to present a draft letter of amendment on budgetary provisions for the 2000 fiscal year (section II - the Council). CONTENTS : the Council's draft letter of amendment for the 2000 fiscal year is presented in order to deal with the supplementary needs that will ensue following the taking up of the post of Secretary General/High Representative (CFSP). In fact, at the time that the draft budget was drawn up and the amending and supplementary budget (ASB) 2/99 was approved by the Council, account was taken of the main budgetary needs that would arise from the implementation of the Treaty of Amsterdam (Schengen, UPP, Co-decision, Transparency, appointment of a Secretary General/High Representative, of a Deputy Secretary General and the establishment of their cabinets). However, because the appointments were only made on 04.06.1999, the exceptional and specific needs of the Secretary General/High Representative were not known and have only recently been formulated. The expenditure concerned : - the conversion of 3 A5 temporary posts to A3 posts for the new Planning and Rapid Alert Unit; - the putting in place of highly qualified bodyguards (8 guards plus a Team Leader) for the close protection of the High Representative; - the High Representative's mission expenses (which include flight and air-taxi trips); - the leasing of an armoured car. The total credits registered in this amending letter amounts to 1.147.000 euros.�