Amending ECSC operating budget 1995

In adopting the report by Mr Otto BARDONG (PPE, D), the European Parliament approved and revised the draft amending budget relating to the ECSC operating budget for 1995. The amendments related to the following points: - considering that it was incomprehensible, in view of the budget for research aid, that this sector had been relatively neglected over the years, Parliament proposed that the amount allocated to this heading be increased from ECU 60 m to ECU 81 m; - considering that the increase in reconversion aid was particularly high, this budget heading was reduced from ECU 35 m to ECU 28 m; - noting the different developments in the coal industry and in the steel-making sector, Parliament amended the Commission's proposals on social actions associated with restructuring: this budget heading was therefore revised in that the steel appropriations were reduced from ECU 60 m to ECU 50 m, while the budget for social actions associated with the restructuring of the coal industry was increased from ECU 38 m to ECU 42. In doing so, Parliament withdrew the ECU 5 m assigned for administrative costs (as previously requested by Parliament) and reduced the aid for adjustment by ECU 5 m. It also pointed out that the Commission had made an error in adding up its expenditure (the addition of 6 budget headings giving a total of ECU 333 m and not ECU 331 m as stated in the initial proposal) and regretted that the latter had not taken advantage of the budget presentation to submit a report on ECSC phasing-in. Finally, Parliament called on the Commission to state its views in the run up to 2002 so as to determine the financial resources which will be remaining on that date and to dispel any legal uncertainties as to the possibility of using these reserves. �