Strengthening the powers of the Assembly in budgetary matters

Recommendation 261 (1960)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 28th September 1960 (19th Sitting) (see Doc. 1159, Report of the Committee on the Budget). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28th September I960 (19th Sitting),

The Assembly,

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

Considering that the financial powers of the Assembly should be strengthened in respect of that section of the Council of Europe's budget which contains the Assembly's operational appropriations;

Considering it necessary to regularise by official sanction certain practices already followed,

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers should amend its Resolution (53) 38, as under :

1 Redraft paragraph 1 as follows :

a When framing up the draft Budget for the Council of Europe, the Secretary-General shall request the Assembly to draw up the section relating to its own operational appropriations.

b The Assembly's budgetary proposals shall be transmitted without change to the Committee of Ministers at the same time as the draft Budget.

c The section of the budget relating to the Assembly's operational appropriations, after approval by the Committee of Ministers, may not be modified without prior consultation with the Assembly.

2 Redraft paragraph 3 as follows :The Secretary-General shall delegate to the Clerk of the Assembly the duties of ordonnateur in respect of the operational appropriations for the Assembly and its Committees.

3 Insert the following paragraph between paragraphs 4 and 5 :

a The Secretary-General shall communicate to the Assembly the Assembly accounts and that part of the Auditors' report which relates to Assembly expenditure.

b The Clerk of the Assembly and the comptroller of financial commitments shall furnish the Assembly with any information that may be requested on the utilisation of appropriations. In appropriate cases, the Assembly's comments shall be brought to the attention of the Committee of Ministers.

4 Add the following paragraph at the end :In order that the Assembly may express its opinion on the general Budget of the Council of Europe and, in particular, on the appropriations to be included for the succeeding year, the Secretary-General shall transmit to the Assembly each year documentation comprising the Budget approved for the current year and the final audited accounts for the previous financial year, together with the Auditors' report thereon.