1996 discharge: EC general budget

Adopting the resolution by James Elles (PPE,UK) on the accounts of the European Communities in respect of the 1996 financial year, the European Parliament recalls its definitive decision not to grant discharge to the Commission in respect of the 1996 financial year and the reasons therefore as voted by Parliament on 17/12/98, namely: - the non-execution of the recommendation of its Committee of Inquiry into the Transit System, especially regarding the computerised control system; - the lack of democratic accountability in the fight against fraud inside the European Institutions; - the lack of coherence and sound financial management which led to a low level of execution of all major foreign policy programmes, i.e. Bosnia-Herzegovinia, PHARE, TACIS and MED; - regarding the agricultural sector, the delay in the implementation of the Integrated Control System and the number of recommendations still not implemented from the BSE committee; - the lack of any precise information as to the results of the proposed measures for job creation in SMEs through the Structural Funds. The Parliament takes note of the EC budget for the 1996 financial year, so that the work on the accounts of later years may be proceeded with as well as taking note of the data established by the Commission in order to close the accounts for the financial year 1996.�