***
As in previous years, the Assembly's opinion is in two parts:
In the second part, the Assembly also describes the procedure for drawing up the opinion and states its priorities for 1991 (foreword).
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VOTE III of the ordinary budget - Expenditure of the Assembly TITRE III du budget ordinaire - Dépenses relatives à l'Assemblée |
Appropriations for 1990 Credits ouverts au budget de 1990 FF |
Changes in real terms proposed for 1991 Modifications en termes réels proposées pour 1991 FF |
|---|---|---|
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HEAD XV – Staff CHAPITRE XV - Dépenses de personnel Sub-heads/Articles |
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66 – Salary, allowances and social charges of the Clerk of the Consultative Assembly Rémunération, indemnités et charges sociales du Greffier de l'Assemblée Consultative |
890 000 |
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67 – Remuneration of staff recruited on established posts Rémunération du personnel recruté sur le cadre permanent |
20 182 000 |
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67 bis – Staffing changes requested in the Office of the Clerk Modifications demandées pour le cadre des emplois du Greffe |
+ 668 000 |
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68 – Recruitment, arrivaI and departure expenses, home leave Frais de recrutement à l'arrivée et au départ – Congés dans le pays d'origine |
156 000 |
|
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69 – Overtime - Allowances for exceptional duties Heures supplémentaires - Indemnités de fonction et prestations exceptionnelles |
88 000 |
|
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70 – Remuneration and accessory charges for temporary conference staff Rémunération et charges accessoires du personnel temporaire de conférence |
11 513 000 |
+ 1 560 000 |
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71 – Provision for cost-of-living allowance and other adjustments to remuneration Provision pour vie chère et autres ajustements de la rémunération |
806 000 |
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TOTAL HEAD XV TOTAL DU CHAPITRE XV |
33 635 000 |
+ 2 228 000 |
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HEAD XVI - Allocation to the Assembly's political groups CHAPITRE XVI - Dotation des groupes politiques de l'Assemblée |
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72 - Allocation to the Assembly's political groups Dotation des groupes politiques de l'Assemblée |
1 619 000 |
+ 500 000 |
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TOTAL HEAD XVI TOTAL DU CHAPITRE XVI. |
1 619 000 |
+ 500 000 |
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VOTE III of the ordinary budget - Expenditure of the Assembly TITRE III du budget ordinaire - Dépenses relatives à l'Assemblée |
Appropriations for 1990 Crédits ouverts au budget de 1990 FF |
Changes in real terms proposed for 1991 Modifications en termes réels proposées pour 1991 FF |
|---|---|---|
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HEAD XVII - Supplies, services and other operational expenditure CHAPITRE XVII - Dépenses de matériel et autres dépenses de fonctionnement |
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Sub-heads / Articles |
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73 - Publishing and printing Publications et impressions |
1 663 000 |
|
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74 - Representational and hospitality costs, travelling and subsistence expenses of the President of the Assembly Dépenses de représentation et de réception, frais de déplacement et de séjour du Président de l'Assemblée |
413 000 |
|
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75 - Expenditure pertaining to the Private Office of the President of the Assembly Dépenses du Cabinet du Président de l'Assemblée |
161 000 |
+ 300 000 |
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76 - Representational expenditure, other official expenditure and travelling expenses of the members of the Assembly Dépenses de représentation, frais de fonction et de déplacement des membres de l'Assemblée |
427 000 |
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77 - Official journeys Frais de mission |
974 000 |
+ 500 000 |
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78 - Expenses for inviting parliamentary delegations of non-member states Dépenses d'accueil de délégations parlementaires d'Etats non membres |
93 000 |
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79 - Consultation of experts Consultation d'experts |
386 000 |
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80 - Organisation of ad hoc conferences Organisation de conférences ad hoc |
1 011 500 |
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80 bis - Strasbourg Conference Conférence de Strasbourg |
+ 1 000 000 |
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81 - Other expenditure not specifically provided for in this vole Autres dépenses non spécialement prévues au présent titre |
97 500 |
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81 bis - Modernisation of the Assembly's equipment (computerisation and office automation) Modernisation de l'équipement de l'Assemblée (informatisation et bureautique) |
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82 - Europe Prizes Prix européens |
108 000 |
+ 200 000 |
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TOTAL HEAD XVII TOTAL DU CHAPITRE XVII |
5 334 000 |
+ 2 000 000 |
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TOTAL VOTE III TOTAL DU TITRE III |
40 588 000 |
+ 4 228 000 |
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VOTE IX - Contacts and co-operation with Central and East European countries TITRE IX - Contacts et coopération avec les pays d'Europe centrale et de l'Est |
Appropriations for 1990 Crédits ouverts au budget de 1990 FF |
Changes in real terms proposed for 1991 Modifications en termes réels proposées pour 1991 FF |
|---|---|---|
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HEAD XXX - Parliamentary activities CHAPITRE XXX - Activités parlementaires |
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Sub-heads /Articles |
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148 - Programme of interparliamentary co-operation Programme de coopération interparlementaire |
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a. Colloquies Colloques |
600 000 |
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b. Training of young parliamentarians Formation de jeunes parlementaires |
+ 200 000 |
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c. Training of parliamentary administrative staff Formation du personnel administratif des parlements |
+ 300 000 |
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TOTAL HEAD XXX (Vote IX) TOTAL DU CHAPITRE XXX (titre IX) |
600 000 |
+ 500 000 |
The Assembly is called upon, as it is every year, to give its opinion on Vote III of the ordinary budget of the Council of Europe, that is, the part of the draft budget dealing with the appropriations pertaining to its operation. The appropriations pertaining to facilities, supplies and equipment do not come under this vote.
The increases requested for 1991 should be regarded as increases in real terms over the Assembly's appropriations for 1990. As in previous years, the Assembly is leaving it to the Secretariat's administrative departments to assess in due course the adjustments that arc being or will be made to 1990 appropriations as a result of changes in salary scales, the implications of such changes for 1991 and the provision that needs to be made for salary adjustments in 1991. Similarly, it will be up to the Secretary General to adjust the other appropriations for inflation.
The amounts of the appropriations requested by the Assembly for 1991 will thus be determined by the total appropriations allocated to the Assembly for 1990 (including any additional appropriations allocated in the course of the year) plus:
The Assembly's priorities are:
Sub-head 66 - Salary, allowances and social charges of the Clerk of the Assembly
This appropriation covers the basic salaries, allowances (both non-recurring and periodic) and social insurance of the staff of the Office of the Clerk, which comprises the following forty-nine posts:
Sub-head 67 bis - Staffing changes requested in the Office of the Clerk
Estimate for 1991 :
Upgradings:
The Assembly has set out in detail on several occasions its grounds for requesting the creation of this post (see, for example, its Opinion No. 147 (1989), pages 6 and 7). With the 3rd Strasbourg Conference coming up in September 1991, the Assembly's arguments are more topical than ever, and the creation of this post is becoming a matter of some urgency. The tasks linked to the preparation of the conference, and all the other activities arising from it (servicing at least two meetings of the steering committee and five meetings of the contact group during the year: preparation of meetings requiring consultations and negotiations with the European Parliament and the parliaments or embassies of non-member countries, as well as with other international parliamentary assemblies and nongovernmental organisations; administrative and drafting assistance in connection with regional conferences on democracy and colloquies), arc at present performed by two members of staff who also shoulder responsibilities related to the servicing of several Assembly committees. This stopgap solution cannot continue without affecting the efficiency of the service. It should also be noted that the likely participation of a number of Central and East European countries in the forthcoming Strasbourg Conference will, on the one hand, entail an increased workload and, on the other, constitute an example of the close link between this activity of the Assembly and its political priority of dialogue and co-operation with those countries.
The increase in the Assembly's work in the field of external relations, and especially that of interparliamentary co-operation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, creates an urgent need for new posts of assistant. Out of a concern for realism and by way of a first step towards the satisfaction of these needs, the Assembly merely requests the creation of one B2 post for 1991. mainly to reinforce the President's secretariat.
The Assembly has been arguing since 1981 that the secretaries of its thirteen committees should be placed on an equal footing (all grade A4). The Assembly noted in its Opinion No. 147 that this was not the case as far as three committees were concerned and asked the Committee of Ministers to upgrade these three posts "if possible over a period of three years, starting in 1990". The Assembly wishes to thank the Committee of Ministers for having granted its request and expects a further upgrading of an A3 post to A4 as from I January 1991.
In its Opinion No. 147 the Assembly asked for the upgrading to B3 of two B2 posts held by members of staff whose duties had entailed a change in the nature of the posts. The Committee of Ministers agreed to the upgrading of the post of assistant to the Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme. In order to comply with the principle of non-discrimination between members of staff performing comparable duties, the Assembly urges that the other post, to be filled by a member of staff working as assistant to the Strasbourg Conference, its steering committee and its contact group, be also upgraded. As the Assembly has already argued, these duties arc substantially comparable to those of a committee assistant.
Sub-head 68 - Recruitment, arrival and departure expenses, home leave
Estimate for 1991 : I 560 000 FF.
To enable the Assembly to perform its function in relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and in order not to frustrate the expectations of the parliaments of those countries, it seems essential that Assembly committees should be able to hold more meetings in the countries enjoying special guest status. At present, each committee may only meet once a year away from Strasbourg or Paris. Parliamentarians' travel and subsistence expenses are normally paid by the national parliaments of the member states, with the Assembly's budget covering interpretation and secretarial expenses. In the present political situation, it is highly desirable for each committee to be able to hold a second meeting each year (at present this applies only to the Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations) away from Strasbourg or Paris, provided the meeting is held in a country enjoying special guest status. These meetings would give AssembLy committees the opportunity to exchange views with their counterparts in those countries on topics of mutual interest within their particular spheres of competence. This will only be possible if interpretation expenses and those relating to Secretariat official journeys are increased accordingly. For this reason the Assembly requests an increase in real terms of I 560 000 FF under this sub-head.
Sub-head 71 - Provision for cost-of-living allowance and other adjustments to remuneration
The Assembly proposes that the 1991 appropriations for Sub-heads 68, 69 and 71 be kept at the same level in real terms as in 1990.
Sub-head 72 - Allocation to the Assembly's political groups
The Assembly proposes to increase the allocation to political groups by 500 000 FF in the draft budget for 1991.
The Assembly's political groups, reflecting the pluralist democracies of the member states of the Council of Europe, have a particular role to play in East-West cooperation. They organise meetings, seminars and debates with delegations of the countries which have special guest status, but they also invite delegates from youth organisations of Central and East European countries. Through these activities, the political groups wish to contribute to reinforcing the role of the Council of Europe in the future architecture of Europe. In order to allow the groups to fulfil their new tasks, it is necessary to allocate an increase in resources of 500 000 FF.
It should be borne in mind that the appropriations under the following sub-heads have been voted since 1975 in the form of a lump sum. The various amounts in this package may subsequently be altered under Article 31 of the Financial Regulations.
The budgetary package covers the following items:
Sub-head 73 - Publishing and printing
The new priorities in the field of relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will entail increased expenditure under three of the above sub-heads (74, 75 and 76) with regard to which the following considerations should be borne in mind :
The Assembly therefore requests an increase in real terms of 300 000 FF for the three sub-heads in question.
Sub-head 77 - Official journeys
The requested increase in the appropriation for this sub-head is based to a large extent on the same arguments as for Sub-head 70 (granting to Assembly committees the possibility of holding two meetings a year away from Strasbourg and Paris), but also on those put forward in connection with Sub-head 76. Provision should be made for an increase of 500 000 FF in real terms.
Sub-head 78 - Expenses for inviting parliamentary delegations of non-member states
The Assembly requests the creation of a new budget heading designed:
As regards in particular the International Institute for Democracy, it should be noted that it was established in 1988 by the Steering Committee of the Strasbourg Conference. Its purpose is to promote the development of democratic institutions and practices and to co-ordinate and promote research into pluralist democracy. In the near future it could act as a clearing-house by collecting as much information as possible on development in.the countries concerned and on action taken at national and international level to support the development process. It is easy to imagine the contribution which a data bank of this kind will be able to make in future to the preparation of the Assembly's reports on these countries and its visits to them. The institute might also administer a network of exchanges of officials between the parliaments of Western Europe and those of Central and Eastern Europe. From this point of view, it should act as a provider of services for the Assembly. For these reasons the Assembly's financial aid to the institute is of particular importance.
Sub-head 81 - Other expenditure not specifically provided for in this vote
Token entry.
As mentioned in the foreword to this opinion, the Assembly continues to regard the modernisation of its equipment as a matter of priority. It is therefore willing to participate in that by way of a lump-sum contribution to be deducted from its package.
Sub-head 82 - Europe Prizes
The Assembly is anxious that the meetings of the selection committee should be covered by this sub-head, as well as the plaques of honour awarded to prize-winning towns, and requests an increase of 200 (XX) FF for this purpose.
Sub-head 148 - Programme of interparliamentary cooperation
The Assembly requests the creation of two new budget headings under this sub-head and, for the sake of consistency, proposes thai the title "Organisation of colloquies" be changed to "Programme of interparliamentary co-operation".
The Assembly requests that the 1990 appropriation (600 000 FF) be adjusted for inflation.
The Assembly requests the creation of this new budget heading which should enable it to comply with the requests made by the forum of young parliamentarians from Europe, the United States and Canada to organise meetings, seminars and debates with young parliamentarians from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe on subjects of interest to the members of the Assembly, in which the European Youth Centre would be involved under arrangements to be specified. For this purpose the Assembly requests an increase of 200 (KM) FF in real terms.
The Assembly requests the creation of a new budget heading enabling it to receive some twenty officials from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in 1991 in the best possible conditions. Initial experience in this field indicates that the Assembly is capable of playing an extremely useful role. Each official would stay in Strasbourg for a period of one to three months and be entitled to a subsistence allowance and the repayment of travel expenses. For this purpose the Assembly requests an increase of 300 000 FF in real terms.
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In addition to the requests made under Head XV (Stall"), the Assembly requests the following increases in real terms:
The Assembly also requests the creation of the following new budget headings:
In the package
Sub-head 80 bis - Strasbourg Conference : 1 000 000 FF
The Assembly requests that the other sub-heads of the package be adjusted for inflation for 1991.
Lastly, with regard to Vote IX of the ordinary budget, the Assembly requests the creation of two new budget headings under Sub-head 148 (for which it also proposes a new title) to finance the following activities:
Training of young parliamentarians : 200 000 FF
Training of parliamentary administrative
staff : 300 000 FF
Article 82 - Prix européens : 200 000 FF