Adopting the report by Mr Vicenzo (EPP, I), Parliament approved the Community's 'other
Institutions' budget. These are rigorous budgets for each of the Institutions concerned but which take
account of some inevitable changes such as the increase in staff, expenditure on pensions and the
increase in the Ombudsman's activities. The Institutions' total administrative expenditure is EUR 4 bn
710 m. Parliament's budget is EUR 927.25 m (up 1.7%). In this context, a new chapter of
expenditure covers parliamentary assistants and priority is given to information technology and the
European elections in June 1999 (EUR 17 m, a figure which corresponds to the average increase in
expenditure in relation to other election years). With regard to the controversial question of Members'
travel expenses, Parliament has decided to abide by its Bureau's decision of 19 October 1998. With
regard to staffing, 10 new temporary posts will be created, five of them in the areas concerned with
enlargement. EUR 2.95 m will be earmarked for information technology and telecommunications.
With regard to the Ombudsman, Parliament advocates that temporary post be converted to permanent
posts. It approves the creation of additional posts for the Court of Justice. With regard to the Court
of Auditors, it approves funding over five years for extending the Court of Auditors' building.
With regard to the Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions, the Amsterdam
Treaty will abolish their common organisational structure and these two Institutions will have to
manage their own budgets. The ESC and the Committee of the Regions will occupy the Belliard I and
Belliard II buildings.
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