BUDGET: MEPS AGREE TO SIGN OFF 1997 ACCOUNTS BUT...

As for institutional management and supervision problems, the Committee wants the Commission to devise a system where the recommendations of the Court of Auditors are systematically followed up. It adds that the powers of a prior supervision (the Financial Controller's approval) and auditing powers need to be separated.On the subject of staff policy, while the Codes of Conduct represent significant progress, the Committee believes these should be amplified with more precise provisions about incompatibility in cases where a Commissioner has a direct interest in an act of recruitment, administration or budgetary implementation for which she is or her departments are directly responsible. The codes should also be made binding. The ultimate aim should be to create a more thorough disciplinary procedure.The Committee says the Technical Assistance Offices (TAOs) must be excluded from any European public service activities (even those which are purely preparatory) and be confined to implementation tasks. As for the problems that led to the resignation of the last Commission the Committee calls on the EU's executive arm to bring...