Reforming the Commission: action plan, aspects concerning the Committee on Budgetary Control. White Paper

The European Parliament approved a resolution drafted by Mr José Javier POMES RUIZ (EPP/ED, E) on the Commission's reform. The Parliament is anxious to ensure that the new Codes of Conduct governing the Commission and officials include provisions for sanctions if necessary and do not overlap and cause confusion. (Refer to the previous document for further details as this reflects what the House agreed upon). In addition, the Parliament also wants to see the reforms result in a speeding-up of payments of Commission bills with 95% of invoices cleared within 60 days. Parliament is however opposed to outsourcing audit services but at the same time wants to see detailed job descriptions for senior officials. Its also wants to see a disciplinary body set up with responsibility for overseeing the application of the Financial Regulation in respect of the financial liability of officials. Furthermore, Parliament made clear that it wants to see the new Internal Audit System set up as soon as possible with the Commission moving towards a system of spot-checks and risk analysis, but with the maintainance of existing checks until this is in place. The House also wants wider access to documents and do not accept Council's exclusion of documents in the defence field. �