Fwd: EC budgetlines: updated information


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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 10:27:54 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: Fwd: EC budgetlines: updated information

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Jana Chrzova <[email protected]>

Fwd: EC budgetlines: updated information


Pro zajimavost.
For your information.

Srdecne zdravi,
Sincerely,

Jana Chrzova
 
-------------------Begin forwarded message--------------------
budgetlines defrosted
Date:    Wed, 22 Jul 1998 14:28:28 +0200 (CEST)
From:    [email protected]

Dear friends,
The Commission has defrosted/unblocked the budgetlines b3-4114
(measures to combat racism and xenophobia) and b3-4113 (measures to
assist refugees) and a lot of others as well. These two budgetlines
are now seen as "preparatory" actions of the Commission. A full list
of blocked and deblocked budgetlines is available on request.
Underneath you find a press release of the European Commission about
the subject.

Kind regards,
Saskia Daru
 
--------------------------------------------------------------
 
European Commission clears most of suspended budget lines and seeks
long-term solution on legal bases
 
--------------------------------------------------------------
 
IP/98/657
Brussels, 15 July 1998
 
The European Commission took stock of the verification of budget lines
without legal basis. The verification was launched by Commission
decision on 10 June, when all budget lines without legal basis were
temporarily suspended following the European Court of Justice's ruling
of 12 May 1998 (C-106/96). By today, the Commission has been able to
totally or partly unblock 75 budget lines out of some 100 temporarily
suspended. 25 budget lines remain suspended: for 16 of these a
proposal for a legal basis is pending with the Council and the
European Parliament. Under current circumstances, the remainder cannot
be implemented in conformity with the Court ruling. Nevertheless, for
all actions remaining fully or partially suspended, the Commission
will respect the legitimate expectations which
have already been created for their implementation in 1998. Having
cleared most of the budget lines concerned by the Court ruling, the
European Commission is now calling on the Council and Parliament to
complete the effort: the adoption of legal bases pending needs to be
accelerated. Furthermore, Council and Parliament need to agree on a
long-term solution to the problem of legal bases.
 
"The conclusion is that we have resolved a great number, but not all
of the problems", said Erkki LIIKANEN, Commissioner responsible for
budget and administration. "The European Union needs a long-term
solution, which should provide an umbrella also for the implementation
of the 1998 and 1999 budgets. At the Trialogue of the 17 July 1998 the
Commission will appeal to the Council and Parliament to agree on such
a solution."
 
Green light
 
After careful scrutiny, about three fourths of the frozen budget lines
were cleared totally or partially, when the Commission was satisfied
that they fulfil the criteria laid down in the Court's ruling. This
applies notably to pilot projects and preparatory measures as well as
to autonomous operations. In some cases a specific legal basis has
been identified.

Commitments vis-�-vis third parties
 
The temporary suspension of commitments caused considerable concern
among the recipients of Community funds. The Commission therefore
promptly resumed implementation of most of the budget lines which,
after verification, can be carried out in compliance with the Court
ruling. For the remaining lines, it appealed to Council and Parliament
to adopt legal bases pending and to agree on long-term rules for legal
bases. In the meantime, the Commission pointed out its intention to
respect the "legitimate expectations" of beneficiaries with regard to
those budget lines which remain fully or partially blocked in 1998. In
practical terms, the Commission will continue financing from these
budget lines for recipients formally identified before 10 June 1998.
This is an exceptional measure applying to 1998 only, and it should be
noted that Union funding might cease in 1999 unless a legal basis is
adopted by then.
 
Outcome of verification
 
- Number and volume of temporarily suspended budget lines: some 100
lines worth ECU 920 million (about 1% of the Union budget for 1998).
 
- 56 budget lines totalling ECU 390 million have been fully cleared.
 
- A further 19 budget lines worth ECU 170 million have been partially
cleared. The full amount can be implemented, but only for some of the
operations initially intended.
 
- 16 budget lines worth ECU 340 million will remain suspended until
the Council and the European Parliament adopt a legal basis for them.
 
- 8 budget lines amounting to ECU 20 million cannot be implemented
under current circumstances, but legitimate expectations are to be
respected.
 
***********************************************************
UNITED for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism
and in support of migrants and refugees
PB 413
NL-1000 AK Amsterdam
phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582
e-mail [email protected]
website  http://www.xs4all.nl/~united
***********************************************************
16 June: International Refugee Day
1000 refugee deaths as a result of "Fortress Europe"
Take action for more humane refugee policies!
***********************************************************

-------------------End of forwarded message--------------------
 
--
****************************
Jana Chrzova
Executive Director
Czech Helsinki Committee
P.O.Box 4
Jeleni 5
119 01 Praha 012 - Hrad
Czech Republic

Tel.: 420-2-2437 2334
Fax : 420-2-2437 2335

Internet: http://www.helcom.cz
*********************************

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