EAGGF Guarantee section, expenditure control: Member States' action programmes

The European Parliament adopted its report on the control of EAGGF Guarantee Section expenditure drafted by Mr. Paulo Casaca (PES, P) subject to 2 amendments. The first amendment relates to citation 1, in which reference is made to Art. 280(4) of the Treaty rather than Article 37, as had been proposed by the Commission. The second amendment relates to Art. 1 which amends Article 5a of Regulation (EC) 723/97. The first part of the Article is amended to provide that the Commission may provide part-financing of 50% of the additional expenditure incurred by Member States in particular cases where the Commission asks them to carry out a number of controls in certain sectors. The second part of the Article states that the expenditure in question 'shall cover the administrative and staffing costs incurred by the Commission in administering this scheme but may not cover staff costs normally incurred by Member States and aid recipients under Art; 1(4) of Regulation 729/70/EEC.�