BUDGET: COUNCIL GUIDELINES FOR 2003.

The Budget Committee stresses the general need to devise a Draft Budget that caters solely for "actual" and "clearly identified" funding requirements. This is an indirect but crystal clear reference to the budget implementation shortcomings that result in payments and commitments having to be postponed each year. The Commission is being asked to act at an early date (and at the same time as its Preliminary Draft Budget if need be, but no later) to forward any information it has to allow the budget authority to decide the suitable level of commitment appropriations. In addition, the information has to be in a "usable form".The cornerstone of the strategy is the need to manage commitments remaining to be settled. This...