Activities of Edit HERCZOG related to 2013/2018(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2014 - Section I - Parliament (debate)
Amendments (14)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. RecallNotes that the level of the preliminary draft estimates for the 2014 budget, as suggested by the Secretary-General in his report to the Bureau, amounts to EUR 1 813 144 206; notes the, meaning a rate of increase of 3,58 % compared with the 2013 budget; notstresses that this proposed increase has to be seen in the context of its constitutive elements, specificallyas an exceptional one-year additional financing made up of an increase of 2,20 % stemming from the election of a new Parliament and the application of the Statutes for Members and Members' assistants, and of an increase of 1,30 % deriving from other legal obligations;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. RecallEmphasises that the financial implications of the European elections and the turnover of Members and their assistants during the changeover between the legislative terms are of an exceptional nature; welcomes the fact that the proposed rate of increase in the budget for 2014 is considerably lower than in 2009, the year of the last European elections, when the increase was 5,33 %, even though the above mentioned legal requirements which are related to elections have increased by almost 52 % between 2009 and 2014;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that pursuant to the agreement reached by the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets at the Conciliation meeting of 13 March 2013, the overall level of the draft estimates for 2014 is set at EUR 1 XXX XXX XXX corresponding to a rate of net increase of X % over the 2013 budget, of which some X % accounts for the compulsory expenditure linked to the election of a new Parliament, while inflation would accounts for some 1,9 %4 1of the increase, resulting in the real increase of X %; calls, however, for potential further savings and redeployments via structural reforms to be sought during the 2014 budgetary procedure and in the following years;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Proposes to analyse the possibility of moving the article 'Pensions' (article 103) and the transitional allowances for Members out of the sub-ceiling of administrative expenditure during the 2014 annual budgetary procedure;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes into consideration the proposed new measures to strengthen the institutional role of Parliament and its Members, based on the initial conclusions of the Joint Bureau and Committee on Budgets Working Group on the Parliament budget, by continuing to pursue structural and organisational reforms that aim to achieve greater efficiencies without endangering legislative excellence and the quality of working conditions, namely to strengthen the arrangement; welcomes the fact that the Joint Working Group looks for further provision of independent scientific advice, the enhancement of the Parliament's capacity to exercise scrutiny, as well as improvement of the logistical and local support provided to Membersotential savings and efficiencies, and expects the Joint Working Group to present its first findings by July 2013 in time for the preparation of the Parliament's 2014 budget reading;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that structural reforms, such as reforms in travel policy and management, reduced length and number of missions, increased use of video-conferencing and reorganisation of translation and interpretation services, some of which have been in place since 2011, are estimated to allow annual savings of approximately EUR 29 million, in addition to expected savings of more than EUR 10 million in forecast interest payments achieved by early advance payments for the Konrad Adenauer (KAD) and Trebel buildings;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that structural reforms, such as reforms in travel policy and management, reduced length and number of missions, increased use of video-conferencing and reorganisation of translation and interpretation services, some of which have been in place since 2011, are estimated to allow annual savings of approximately EUR 29 million, in addition to expected savings of more than EUR 10 million in forecast interest payments achieved by early advance payments for the Konrad Adenauer (KAD) and Trebel buildings;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the proposed decreases compared with the 2013 budget in the areas of translation (-56%) and interpreting costs (-23%), without endangeringlease payments (-60%), web TV (- 38%) and fitting-out of premises (-31%); reminds that savings proposed in the translation and interpretation services cannot jeopardize the principle of multi-lingualism, lease payments (- 60%), web TV (-38%) and fitting-out of premises (-31%); and insists on the facts that the Members' equal access to the linguistic services need to be ensured and that the right working conditions of the services concerned need to be upheld;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that the plannedrocess of the internalisation of the security services as a part of the new global security concept will have a direct impact on the 2014 budgetbe carried on; welcomes the fact that the recruitment of the additional contract staff members will be budget- neutral since it will be offset by a reduction in appropriations for the outsourcing of security services;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls the cutstructural savings made in all travel- related budget lines in 2013; stresses that in terms of travel arrangements, Members cannot be discriminated on the basis of their home country;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that in the current climate of austerity long-term investments such as Parliament's building projects need to be handled prudently and transparently; insists on strict cost management, project planning and supervision; as well as on consulting the Committee on Budgets in advance on the financial framework of the financial implication of the building projects; recalls the Parliament's request in its resolution of 16 February 2012 on the guidelines for the 2013 budget procedure1 for precise information on the progress in buildings projects and its financial implications to be provided every six months and the Parliament's statement that no new unforeseen building projects should be undertaken during the current legislature; ______________ 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0050.
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Is aware that the KAD project is a significant undertaking for Parliament which aims to rationalise Parliament's administration in Luxembourg to obtain synergies; recognises the efforts to communicate the state of play of the KAD building to the Committee on Budgets and requests that this communication continue throughout the duration of the project; notes that adaptations and a downsizing of 8 000 m2 have been made and, therefore, welcomes that the second Call for Tender shows that the KAD project will most likely remain under and, in any case, not exceed the predetermined financial framework; welcomes the savings of more than EUR 10 million in interest payments in the coming years – relative to the 2012 financing estimates for the project – achieved by transfers for early advance payments for both the KAD and the Trebel buildings; notes that due to construction of the KAD building, the total payments per year in future would be lower than rent expenses of comparable property;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Is aware that the KAD project is a significant undertaking for Parliament which aims to rationalise Parliament's administration in Luxembourg to obtain synergies; recognises the efforts to communicate the state of play of the KAD building to the Committee on Budgets and requests that this communication continues throughout the duration of the project; notes that adaptations and a downsizing of 8 000 m2 have been made and, therefore, welcomes thatthe downsizing have been achieved following the Committee on Budgets requests and welcomes the fact that, following the second Call for Tender shows that, the KAD project will most likely remain under and, in any case, not exceed the predetermined financial framework; welcomes the savings of more than EUR 10 million in interest payments in the coming years – relative to the 2012 financing estimates for the project – achieved by transfers for early advance payments for both the KAD and the Trebel buildings; notes that due to construction of the KAD building, the total payments per year in future would be lower than rent expenses of comparable property;