Amending and supplementary budget 2/2002

The committee adopted the report presented by its chairman, Terence WYNN (PES, UK) on Draft Amending Budget No. 2 for the financial year 2002. It noted that the definitive balance from 2001 would be presented in yet another Amending Budget, to be presented by the Commission in May 2002, and said that it was inappropriate to increase the number of budgetary procedures in this way for amending and rectifying budgets. The Commission was therefore urged to use its right of initiative in a more rational way. The committee also noted that the first estimate of the surplus from 2001 was extremely high and asked the Commission to make a detailed analysis by May 2002 to determine whether responsibility for this "unacceptable situation" lay with Commission management, Member States or regional authorities and/or beneficiaries. The Commission was also asked to come up with proposals aimed at overcoming the rigidity of the system and ensuring that unspent money could be used for other needs. When presenting the third supplementary and amending budget in May, the Commission should make a thorough and more accurate assessment of the needs for 2002.�