2004 Budget: EP's estimates, new Staff Regulations

The Secretary-General has presented to the Bureau a number of proposals, in Members dossiers', in view of the adoption of Parliament's Draft Estimates budget for 2005: - adherence to a timetable under which it would be possible to adopt the estimates at the April 2004 part-session, with the following calendar : - 29 March 2004: adoption by the Bureau of the preliminary draft estimates of Parliament for 2005; - end of March 2004: possible conciliation between Bureau and COBU; - April 2004: adoption of the estimates by the COBU and then in plenary; - September 2004: the Bureau considers the draft budget for 2005. - the estimates for 2005 to correspond to 20% of the heading 'Administration' (approx. EUR 1270 m) in the Financial Perspective, while providing for financing of European political parties outside the 20%; - a certain margin to be preserved so that the newly elected Parliament can assert its priorities; the new Staff Regulations of Officials to be implemented and possible staff establishment requirements in a number of fields to be considered in the context of the September 2004 draft of the budget; - the necessary resources to be provided for enlargement for a full year; - the building programmes currently being carried out to be continued and any appropriations available within the 20% to be allocated to bringing forward their financing.�