Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-05-10-Speech-4-019-000"
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"en.20120510.9.4-019-000"2
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"Madam President, I am very pleased to be able to participate today in this very important debate on the correct implementation of the EU budget. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Geier and the rest of this House for its very warm reception of the Danish Presidency.
Therefore, the Council has made a proposal to the European Parliament on the discharge procedure, and the Council has asked the European Parliament to appoint a formal delegation to discuss this proposal and to solve the outstanding issues.
The Danish Presidency looks forward to the continuing informal dialogue between our institutions on this issue, which we hope can pave the way to solving our disagreements. I welcome therefore this debate today and I am looking forward to a very constructive cooperation with the Commission, the European Parliament, the Member States and the Council.
Let me start by stressing the particular importance which the Council attaches to the proper spending of EU appropriations. This applies especially in times of economic and financial crisis, when many Member States have to cut their national budgets and keep their expenditure under strict control, and when European citizens and taxpayers pay even closer attention to the correct use of public funds, not only at the national but also at the European level.
On 28 February, my colleague, Minister Vestager, was in the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control to present the Council’s recommendation to give a discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the budget for 2010. On that occasion, she was able to participate in a very interesting and fruitful debate on the implementation of the EU budget, which concentrated, in particular, on its implementation under shared management by the Commission and Member States.
It again became evident that the European Parliament and the Council share the same concerns. We therefore both addressed the fact that a large share of payments from the EU budget is still materially affected by error, and we both follow the overall aim of attaining an unqualified audit opinion from the European Court of Auditors. In that context, I would like to mention that Minister Vestager has informed her colleagues in Ecofin about the issues raised by the Committee on Budgetary Control during the debate.
I can only repeat what was said in February. The Council would like to see more progress in the financial management and control of EU funds. It encouraged the Commission to fully assume its responsibility in the implementation of the budget, to reinforce its supervision and control structures, and to strengthen its cooperation with and its guidance to Member State authorities.
The Council recalls in this context the importance of recoveries and financial corrections which are an essential element in protecting the Union’s financial interest and in improving the management of EU funds. Payment should be interrupted and suspended whenever significant deficiencies are identified and until corrective action is fully implemented. Unduly paid amounts should be recovered without delay and full transparency in the implementation of corrective action must be ensured.
I can assure you that the Council Presidency will make all possible efforts to make progress on this issue and I have noted that many of the Council’s priorities are also those of the European Parliament; I therefore count on your cooperation and support. We can improve the situation if all actors – the European Parliament, Council, Commission and Member States – work constructively together towards the sound financial management and an efficient control of EU funds.
The ongoing negotiations and the revision of the Financial Regulation are a perfect opportunity to improve and simplify procedures, and to reasonably strengthen supervision and control without creating any excessive administrative burden.
Finally, I have to say a few words on the disagreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the discharge procedure between our institutions. The Council is of the opinion that it is important to find a durable solution to this recurring problem and that this solution should be based on three principles: accountability, transparency and reciprocity."@en1
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