MEP Bart Staes' report on the Budgetary Discharge 2008 caused some ripples in the ranks. MEPs were concerned about missing elements of the report. Divorce laws will be simplified by an EU initiative spearheaded by Commissioner Reding. TB is back on the ag

The News: Budget approval 2008 - Divorce law update - Bart Staes on budget

Binational divorces are in the news:   a new European regulation could simplify

legal procedures that often contradict one   another. We’ve got the MEPs’ reactions.

The EP’s budget in question. In 2008 EP   spending was up to 1.45 billion euros.

Tuberculosis is a resistant disease in   Europe. MEPs are waiting impatiently

It’s a first in Europe.   At the request of 10 Member States

a new regulation could simplify   binational divorces.

allows a veto to be overturned   in some Member States.

There are 27 ways of saying   'I do' in the EU,

and if it all goes wrong,   27 ways of saying 'I don't'.

A divorce means lawyers,   courts and legal proceedings.

Each country deals with it   in their own way.

Family law is rarely compatible   between Member States.

20% of all divorce cases annually   are bi-national,

Despite EU regulation introduced   ten years ago problems remain.

No more forum shopping   but clear rules for the two.

It takes two to marry,   and two to divorce.

The best way would be that they could   agree on the rules.

If not, there will be legal certainty on how   the court will carry it out.

and it would be the first practical   example of enhanced cooperation.

It gives Member States the opportunity   to work together

when a unanimous EU decision   was needed but couldn’t be achieved.

Ten Member States have requested   authorisation to go ahead,

amongst them France, Italy,   Spain and Austria.

The EP has no say in the   enhanced cooperation mechanism,

but had played a decisive role in creating   the framework for binational divorce.

It shows that what we proposed   is the best solution,

There's no interference in family law   of these countries,

but a system which simplifies citizens'   lives if they wish to divorce.

People in Europe expect simplified   admin in all areas.

We have to prepare ourselves for more   complications with bi-national spouses.

Enhanced cooperation is meant   to have a pilot function

and be open to more Member States   to join at any time.

How was taxpayers money   spent in 2008?

MEPs are going through the EU   institutional spending.

It’s one of the EP’s key missions   in budgetary control.

Management of public money   is in the spotlight. Hugues Wajnsztok.

3 euros and 20 cents, that's Parliament's   running cost per citizen in 2008

That’s a total of 1.452 billion euros.

The Committee on Budgetary Control   checked where the money went.

It was the opportunity for some MEPs   to cast a critical eye

But the EP committee stripped   the report of some recommendations

was just to state that it was a problem   that the bureau could overrule

MEPs concerning   decisions on financial matters.

Another thing that was taken   out was a call for more openness.

In the end some spending   areas were criticised.

For example the budget for the LUX prize,

EuroparlTV and not forgetting the costs   linked to the parliament’s buildings.

The building policy, I think   there’s something wrong there,

And we have started,   for example, a new visitor centre.

Why it’s two-three years late,   I don’t know. I want to know.

The report on the 2008   budgetary discharge of the parliament

must be submitted to a vote   for all MEPs on April 20th

He’s in charge of dissecting   the EP’s budget. Here’s more.

Today the MEPs   have taken a vote on your report.

To use your own words   during today's press conference:

'They killed my baby.'   You said it in English.

I don't think my report   was excessively negative.

I did not claim that the EP committed   fraud, or abused its powers.

I merely wanted to suggest   a different approach

by saying: 'Look, in 5 years   we'll have new European elections'.

'We're always coping   with controversy.'

'Let's make sure that the management   of the European Parliament

disposes of all the means to ensure   that in 2014 everything is in order...'

The European Parliament is always   very critical of the European Commission,

the Council of Ministers   and all other European institutions.

A little self-criticism   would therefore not be misplaced.

Of those critical notes, which were, or still   are, the most important ones?

My most important observations   concerned better internal auditing,

to ensure that the financial rules   are correctly implemented,

to ensure transparency, so that   the citizens know what goes on here,

also with their money - 1.5 billion euros   is a lot of taxpayers' money.

Which of the amendments   are difficult for you to take?

It just so happens that they're   all to do with the upper management.

Apparently, they're all easily offended   and refuse to take any advice.

I find it a pity that the Christian   Democrats have allowed themselves

to be used by the higher levels   of the European Parliament.

The EPP claim   that the Parliament is already doing a lot,

True. A lot has been done,   but there's always room for improvement.