§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what important aspects of the European Economic Community Council's approach to the problem of budget discipline were not endorsed by the Assembly in its recent meeting with the Council.
§ Mr. BrookeThe delegation from the European Parliament spoke of its concern about the setting of reference framework limits for expenditure and made clear that it could not support the restraints which the Council's budget discipline conclusions implied for non-obligatory expenditure in areas such as the structural funds and new policies.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the European Assembly has refused to discuss with the Council the reference framework for the 1987 European Economic Community budget.
§ Mr. BrookeIn a declaration issued following its meeting with the Council on 28 April, the European Parliament delegation claimed that a discussion of the 1987 reference framework did not make sense, given that there was no agreement on the general aims of budget discipline between the Council and the Parliament and given that the starting points of the discussion, and in particular the content of the supplementary budget for 1986, were not known.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Government will seek to ensure that when the presidents of the three European Economic Community institutions meet to discuss possible procedures for a budget discipline common to Council, Commission and Assembly, no additional financial power is granted to the Assembly; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. BrookeThe powers of the European Parliament over budgetary matters are laid down in articles 199 to 209 of the EEC treaty. The treaty can be amended only by the unanimous agreement of the member states and their Parliaments.