Recommendation 1344 (1997)

Enlargement of the Council of Europe: the budgetary and administrative powers of the Assembly

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Assembly debate on 24 September 1997 (29th Sitting) (see Doc. 7900, report of the Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme, rapporteur: Mr Martínez). Text adopted by the Assembly on 24 September 1997 (29th Sitting).

1. The Assembly considers that its present budgetary and administrative powers are unsatisfactory and do not correspond to the normal prerogatives of a parliamentary assembly.

2. The Assembly recalls its Recommendation 1155 (1991) on the powers of the Assembly in budgetary matters and regrets that the implementation of the new budget procedure - as promised by the Committee of Ministers in its reply to Recommendation 1155 (1991) - as well as the amendment of the article of the Statute of the Council of Europe on the Assembly's establishing its own expenditure have been delayed.

3. The Assembly recalls its Recommendation 918 (1981) on the duties and responsibilities of the Clerk of the Assembly and the relationship between the Assembly, the Clerk and the staff placed at the disposal of the Assembly, and considers that with regard to its administrative powers the time is ripe for a formal recognition of the existing practices which denote the special nature of the Office of the Clerk.

4. Therefore, the Assembly recommends to the Committee of Ministers:

4.1. with regard to the general budget of the Council of Europe:

a. to follow a budgetary timetable which would enable the Assembly's opinion to be taken fully into account;

b. to communicate to the Assembly, at the appropriate time, all relevant budgetary information;

c. to consult the Assembly before fixing the overall ceiling;

4.2. with regard to the budget of the Assembly (Vote III of the Ordinary Budget of the Council of Europe): to set up a mechanism for a direct consultation with the Assembly so as to reach agreement on the total appropriations allocated to the Assembly each year;

4.3. with regard to the administrative powers of the Assembly: to amend the staff regulations so that appointment of staff to the Office of the Clerk would be subject either to the approval of the President or the Clerk of the Assembly or, in the case of the highest-ranking posts (A6 or A7), to the Bureau's approval.