1997 discharge: EC general budget, 6th and 7th European Development Funds EDF

The committee adopted the report by Laurens Jan BRINKHORST (ELDR, NL) proposing to Parliament that the decision on the 1997 discharge be postponed. The report refers to the conclusions of the first report by the Committee of Independent Experts, published on 15th March 1999, on the allegations of fraud, mismanagement and nepotism in the Commission. It should be recalled that all the members of the Commission resigned on the day the report was published and that a second report by the same committee of experts is due to be delivered in early September. A working document annexed to the resolution lists the main issues raised by the Budgetary Control Committee in connection with the 1997 discharge. These broadly follow on from those discussed during the 1996 procedure and will certainly be taken on board by the new Commission under its new President (expected to be Romano Prodi), who is going to undertake the major reforms needed to the Commission's management, practices and working methods with the aim of introducing the transparency, democratic accountability and efficiency which are needed. The newly-elected Parliament will look once more at the 1997 discharge in the autumn.�