Council of Europe Budget for 1961

Opinion 33 (1960)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 28th April 1960 (6th Sitting) (see Doc. 1115, Report of the Committee on the Budget). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28th April 1960 (6th Sitting).

The Assembly,

Having regard to the preliminary draft of Vote II of the Budget for 1961 (Ex-penditure of the Consultative Assembly), transmitted to the Assembly by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe;

Having regard to the Budget of the Council of Europe for the Financial Year 1960, as adopted by the Committee of Ministers, together with the General Accounts for the Financial Year 1958, this being the latest period for which final accounts are available;

Having regard to Resolution (53) 38 of the Committee of Ministers;

Having regard to the decision of the Committee of Ministers concerning the discussion of the Budget of the Council of Europe by the Consultative Assembly, which was transmitted by letter of the Secretary-General to the President of the Consultative Assembly on 19th March 1955;

Adopts the following Opinion:

/. Preliminary draft of Vote II of the Budget for 1961 (Expenditure of the Consultative Assembly)

The Assembly approves the Secretary-General's proposals for the following Sub-heads :

a Remuneration of temporary staff - 400,000 N.F.

b Travel expenses and allowances for travel time - 115,000 N.F.

c Sickness and accident insurance - 5.000 N.F.

d Technical staff seconded by national administrations - 60,000 N.F.

e Maintenance of radioelectrical equipment - 10,000 N.F.

f Stationery and miscellaneous supplies - 128,000 N.F.

g Publications - 207,000 N.F.

h Hire of cars - 4,000 N.F.

i Representational, travel and subsistence expenses of the President - 39,000 N.F.

j Expenditure for the President's Private Office - 27,600 N.F.

k Experts' travelling expenses, subsistence allowances and fees - 23,500 N.F.

l Miscellaneous expenditure and contingencies - 8,500 N.F.

For other items, the following estimates are suggested :

a Representational and other official expenses incurred by members of the Assembly - 73,100 N.F.

b Official journeys of staff of the Secretariat - 100,000 N.F.

c European Prize - 12,500 N.F.

d Conference of Local Authorities - 170,000 N.F.

II. Council of Europe Budget (Votes other than Vote II)

1. Creation of new posts

The Assembly wishes to thank the Committee of Ministers for including in the 1960 Budget an appropriation of 5,000 N.F. to finance an increase in the typing staff of the Clerk's Office. It nevertheless considers that the 1961 Budget should allow for the appointment of a permanent assistant.

In the light of the experience gained during the Third Conference of Local Authorities, the Assembly also feels that the increased work devolving on the Office of the Clerk by reason of the Conference's activities necessitates the addition of a new post of Administrative Officer to the staff provided for under Vote I, Head I.

2. Establishment of a Pension Scheme

The Assembly has noted the explanations given by the Committee of Ministers in the Second Supplement to the 10th Statutory Report (Doc. 1071, paragraphs 128 - 130), where it is stated that this matter is still being studied by a joint Council of Europe/OEEC Working Party. The Assembly emphasizes that the speedy establishment of a pension scheme, which has now been on its Agenda for several years, is the responsibility of the Committee of Ministers, and it therefore urges once again that the latter should make the appropriate arrangements at the earliest possible date.