2001 Budget: other sections

The Council has completed the second reading of the 2001 budget (other sections), taking decisions on all proposed alterations and on all the amendments adopted by the European Parliament at the first reading. In particular, the Council has accepted the parliamentary amendments relating to the Court of Auditors, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Ombudsman, as well as upholding the draft budget adopted by the Council in July 2000 for Part A of the Commission section, including Letter of Amendment No 1, and for the Court of Justice, apart from one amendment. As far as the Council budget is concerned, the Council indicated that, from January 2001, it would be examining draft estimates for a supplementary and amending budget designed to cover the Council's new requirements arising from developments in the European security and defence policy and especially its additional staffing requirements. �