On 22 March 2010, the Commission presented draft amending budget (DAB) No 2 to the general budget for 2010.
This DAB consisted of two main parts:
- Section III of the general budget: modifications to the establishment plan of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) Office were proposed in order to enable the Commission to hire the necessary staff following the adoption of the legal basis for the setting up of this body. The amended establishment plan included the breakdown by grades, without changing the total number of staff for each function group. The proposed modifications did not require any additional financial provisions, as the corresponding administrative appropriations had already been authorised in the 2010 budget;
- Sections VI and VII of the general budget: additional human and financial resources were requested for the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions in order to take into account the new Treaty provisions, over a 6 months period and for a total amount of EUR 10 530 924 in commitment and payment appropriations within heading 5 (Administration).
Following the budgetary trilogue on 30 June 2010, the Commission sent a letter to the budgetary authority on 5 July 2010 proposing to split DAB No 2/2010 into two parts: one part would cover section III and the other part would cover sections VI and VII.
The Council was able to accept the part concerning section III of the general budget (BEREC's establishment plan).
Conclusion: on 26 July 2010, the Council adopted its position on draft amending budget No 2 (part 1) for the financial year 2010, as set out in the technical annex to its explanatory memorandum (see Council Doc. 12583/2010).