1994 discharge: European Parliament budget

Adopting the report by Mr DANKERT (PSE, NL), the European Parliament gave discharge to its secretary-general in respect of the implementation of the budget for the 1994 financial year but regretted that the contract for the new building in Strasbourg was signed without the financial controller's prior approval (the President of the Parliament apparently signed a lease without taking account of the financial perspectives and the decision was taken by the Bureau without taking account of these perspectives). It agreed with the Court of Auditors that there can be no "de facto" approval. The report also addressed the administrative structure and management of the European Parliament, taking account of the increased workload, and called for a report within the next 18 months on how the European Parliament can increase the efficiency of its management and structures in order to be prepared for future enlargement. At the same time, Parliament gave discharge to the secretaries-general of the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, the ESC and the Committee of the Regions in respect of the implementation of their individual budgets for the 1994 financial year, while drawing the attention of these institutions to their recruitment policies. Parliament was particularly concerned by the recruitment policy of the Committee of the Regions and called for a report on all aspects of this policy (including an audit of mission and travel expenses of the Committee members).