2001 budget: conciliation procedure

The European Parliament has adopted the report drafted by Mrs Jutta HAUG (PES, D) on the 2001 budget in view of the conciliation procedure before the Council's first reading. The Parliament has taken note of the Commission's proposal to review the financial perspective, which is needed with regard to cooperation with the least developed non-member countries and with regard to stabilisation of the Western Balkans. The European Parliament rejects the idea of a compulsory multiannual redeployment of EU traditional priorities solely through a reduction of the envelopes to finance new needs and insists on a multiannual revision of the ceiling of heading 4 (external action). Parliament believes that, as a budgetary authority, it must do everything to ensure that the EU's priorities receive proper financing. It is convinced that the Council will cooperate fully so the negotiations can be concluded as soon as possible. In relation to the financing for the Balkans, it takes the view that the amounts given in the Commission proposal are indicative. Parliament is waiting for the updated figures for agricultural expenditure that the Commission will present in the autumn and considers it inappropriate to reduce the ceiling of heading 1 (agricultural expenditure). In relation to the international fisheries and organisations, the Parliament welcomes the amounts earmarked by the Commission in the PDB for international fisheries agreement. Concerning CFSP expenditure, Parliament considers that all expenditure on special envoys is operational expenditure and thus should not be included in the Council budget. It wants a special envoy to be sent to East Timor in order to monitor closely the Peace and Reconstruction Process. On other aspects of the Preliminary Draft Budget, the Parliament stresses that the Commission shall include in its assessment of staff needs, what the staff requirements are to maintain core activities and run existing programmes, as well as estimates for additional staff for new activities. The Parliament also welcomes the creation of a new initiative in favour of new technologies for SMEs. Lastly, it demands the continuation of the information campaign for the euro (PRINCE) with high priority, since in the important phase in the run up to the introduction of the euro notes and coins, there will be a high demand for information from the citizens of the European Union. �