§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when recommendations made by the European Economic Community Court of Auditors were last discussed by the Council of Ministers; and what was the result of its deliberations.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe Council of Ministers has not in the past discussed recommendations made by the Court of Auditors. Reports produced by the court are considered in the Council's Budget Committee, a committee of national experts. The court's report on the implementation of the Community's budget, for example, is considered by this Committee and also by the Committee of Permanent Representatives. A recommendation that the European Parliament should grant the Commission a discharge is then sent to the Council for its approval. The recommendation for discharge on the 1981 accounts appeared on the Council's agenda as a "A point", that is an item which has already been agreed and on which no further discussion is necessary, on 15 March 1983. This recommendation, which contained a number of suggestions, endorsed by the Council, for improving financial control was sent to the European Parliament who granted a discharge on 18 May. The Council's budget Committee is currently considering the court's report on the 1982 accounts.