1999 discharge: EC general budget, other sections

The European Parliament adopted the report by Mrs Lousewies van der LAAN (ELDR, NL), thereby granting discharge for 1999 to the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors and the Committee of the Regions. (Please refer to the previous document). However, it decided to postpone the decision concerning discharge for the Economic and Social Committee until the decision of the OLAF inquiry into a number of irregularities have been received. It should be noted, however, that in relation to the buildings policy of the Court of Justice, the Parliament regrets the circumstances which led to what the Court of Justice calls for the "formal irregularity" of occupying these buildings without a written lease agreement between 1989 and 1994 at a cost of around ECU 35 million by way of advances on rent payment to be adjusted, in conditions contrary to the rules set down in the Financial Regulation. The Parliament believes that, almost 7 years after the conclusion of the lease-option agreement of 15.11.1994, between the Court of Justice and the Luxembourg authorities, the time is ripe for the situation to be clarified. Therefore, it expects to be informed of the expert's conclusions as soon as possible.