The Committee on Budgets adopted the joint report drafted by László SURJÁN (EPP, HU) and Roberto GUALTIERI (S&D, IT) recommending the European Parliament to approve, unamended, the Council's position on Draft amending budget 6/2010 of the European Union for the financial year 2010, Section II - European Council and Council Section III – Commission Section X - European External Action Service.
The committee recalls that this Amending budget is the third and final piece of a set of legislation necessary to implement the political agreement and subsequent Council Decision establishing the EEAS (the other two being a modification of the Financial Regulation and a modification of the Staff Regulation).
Members state that the establishment of the EEAS has to be guided by the principles of cost efficiency, budget neutrality, and sound and efficient management while fully taking into account the impact of the economic crisis in public finances and the need for budgetary stringency.
They recall that the needs for 2011 are covered by an Amending Letter 1/2010 to the 2011 budget (see BUD/2010/2001) and will be incorporated into the general budget procedure for that year. They recall that the bulk of resources necessary will simply be transferred from the Sections of the European Council and Council and the Commission, but a limited amount of new resources is also being requested in terms of staff and contract staff.
Lastly, Members reiterate that it is crucial for the EU to be able to operate the full range of its external instruments under a coherent structure for the EEAS and that this Draft amending budget No 6/2010 will formally enter this budgetary adjustment into the 2010 budget, including the creation of a new and separate Section X, which is part of the political agreement.