Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget: implementation of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002

2006/0900(CNS)

Opinion No 1/2007 on the draft Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) amending Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation

(EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

The Court has assessed the Commission’s proposal against the following principles:

- consistency with the Financial Regulation;

- compliance with the principles of sound financial management;

- simplification of administrative procedures without compromising the protection of financial interests.

The Court considers that in most cases the proposed amendments meet these conditions. However, the Court has concerns about a number of issues where:

- the new or amended Financial Regulation requirements are insufficiently developed;

- the amendments go against the principles of simplification and/or protection of financial interests; or

- there is a contradiction with the requirements of the Financial Regulation.