§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will accept in the Council of Ministers the opinion of the Court of Auditors of the European Economic Community in its annual report for 1979 that action by the Commission in respect of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund guarantee section contravened articles 203 and 205 of the European Economic Community Treaty.
§ Sir Ian GilmourThis matter was considered by the Council during the preparation of its recommendation for a discharge in respect of the implementation of the 1979 budget. Member States accepted the view of the Court of Auditors that Commission actions in relation to the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund guarantee at the end of 1979 were irregular, but concluded that the expenditure involved was properly chargeable to the budget. The Council therefore commented as follows:—
The Council agrees with the Commission that owing to exceptional circumstances this expenditure must be charged to the 1980 financial year.The Council regrets this situation and urges the Commission to ensure that it does not recur".The United Kingdom is associated with this comment.