BUDGET: EP'S BUDGETARY CONTROL COMMITTEE APPROVES 2001 ACCOUNTS.

• Position: European Parliament

The vote on a Resolution on a general discharge for the 2001 budget, which should be confirmed by the April 7-10 plenary session, is a logical consequence of the reverse suffered by Christopher Heaton-Harris (EPP, United Kingdom) and Gabriele Stauner (EPP, Germany) at the Budgetary Control Committee's last meeting, at which the case of former accountant Marta Andreasen finally lost its sting, following the hearing of Jules Muis, Director General of the Internal Audit service (see European Report 2761 for further details). Mrs Stauner attempted a final manoeuvre in highlighting a letter to Commissioner Michaele Schreyer and what she regards as an unsatisfactory response. "Had I not written I would not have known that an internal audit was ordered in 2002, which is unacceptable", she insisted. "It is clear the Commission is not doing the job it is paid to do", Mr Heaton Harris added. Mrs Stauner also urged the Budgetary Control Committee to hold back its decision pending reception of the Court of Auditors' AMIS report (accounting, management, and information system of the Commission).

"Let us put these questions to one side and vote!" said the clearly aggravated rapporteur, backed up by Helmut Kuhne (PES, Germany), who denounced "diversionary tactics designed to amuse the gallery and the British gutter press". Dietmut Theato (EPP, Germany), President of the Budgetary Control Committee, also expressed her impatience urging members to "stop sniping and vote as...