asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the European Parliament will be granted powers to make decisions on the budget of the EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Parliament.
36.
The Parliament already has the final say on the Communities' non-obligatory expenditure, that is expenditure not necessarily arising from the Treaties or from acts adopted in accordance therewith, and may increase such expenditure within the limits of statistical percentages laid down annually by the Commission in accordance with Treaty provisions. In addition the Parliament enjoys rights of consultation on all Community proposals carrying financial implications and may propose modifications to obligatory expenditure.
The Council meanwhile is finalising draft amendments to the Treaties aimed at extending the Parliament's budgetary powers which would have the effect of:
(a) providing official formal recognition of Parliament's right to reject the budget in its entirety;
(b) granting the Parliament the sole right to give a discharge to the Commission in respect of the budget;
(c) providing that the Council must act by a qualified majority to reject any modifications proposed by the Parliament which did not have the effect of increasing a particular Community Institution's total expenditure.
A special concertation procedure is also being set up to deal with situations where the Council departs significantly from the opinion of Parliament. It is expected that these extended powers of the Parliament will come into effect later in 1975 after the amendments to the Treaties have been signed and ratified by the member states.
What percentage of the total expenditure would the non-obligatory spending be?
The maximum rate for 1975 is 14.6 per cent.
37.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Council of Ministers will decide to fix a date for the election by universal suffrage of the members of the European Parliament.
As the Deputy will be aware point 12 of the communiqué issued after the Conference of the Heads of Government of the member States of European Communities held at Paris on 9th-10th December, 1974 states, and I quote:
The Heads of Government noted that the objective laid down by Treaty of the election of the Parliament by universal suffrage should be achieved as soon as possible. On this point they await with interest the proposals of the Parliament on which they wish the Council to act in 1976. On this assumption, elections by direct universal suffrage should take place starting from 1978.
There were British and Danish reservations on this matter. The European Parliament is currently considering a report on direct elections. If adopted it is expected that this report, in the form of a draft convention, will be forwarded to the Council for action. It is not possible to say now when exactly the Council will decide on the date for direct elections but having regard to the position adopted by the heads of Government and subject to the reservations then expressed by the UK and Danish Governments, the Minister would greatly hope that the Council will have decided on a procedure for the holding of direct elections by the member States, including the date therefor, before the end of 1976.