European Commission, administrative reform: management of Community programmes, statute of executive agencies

The European Parliament adopted the report by Mr Jean-Louis BOURLANGES (EPP-ED, F). Parliament made it clear that the Commission remains ultimately responsible for the activities of those executive agencies that are entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes. While subscribing to the Commission proposal in principle, the Parliament wants externalisation to be restricted to tasks related to the management of Community programmes. Tasks related to the Commission's public service activities may only be delegated to external agencies when justified because of their temporary nature or technical complexity. (Please refer to the previous text for additional information on the amendments adopted). �