1.

European Parliament decision on the discharge for implementing the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2003, Section I ‘�European Parliament (C6-0015/2005 ‘�2004/2041(DEC))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2003 [1],

- having regard to the revenue and expenditure account and balance sheet in respect of the financial year 2003 (C6-0015/2005),

- having regard to the annual report of the Court of Auditors concerning the financial year 2003, together with the institutions' replies [2],

- having regard to the Statement of Assurance as to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions, provided by the Court of Auditors pursuant to Article 248 of the EC Treaty [3],

- having regard to Article 275 of the EC Treaty and Article 179a of the Euratom Treaty,

- having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities [4], particularly Articles 145, 146 and 147 thereof,

- having regard to Article 147(1) of the Financial Regulation of 25 June 2002, pursuant to which each Community institution is required to take all appropriate steps to act on the observations accompanying the European Parliament's discharge decision,

- having regard to the Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities [5],

- having regard to Rules 71 and 74(3) of its Rules of Procedure and Annex V thereto,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A6-0063/2005),

A. whereas the Court of Auditors in paragraph 9.15 of its annual report for the financial year 2003 found as regards the European Parliament that "the transactions audited were substantially legal and regular",

B. whereas the Financial Regulation of 25 June 2002 and the Rules of Procedure of Parliament as amended on 23 October 2002 apply with effect from 1 January 2003 as regards procedural rules governing the discharge procedure,

C. whereas Parliament's Rules of Procedure were amended on 23 October 2002 to provide that discharge is to be given to the President rather than to the Secretary-General,

1. Grants its President discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2003;

2. Records its comments in the accompanying resolution;

3. Instructs its President to forward this decision and the accompanying resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors and the Ombudsman and to have them published in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series).

[1] OJ L 54, 28.2.2003.

[2] OJ C 293, 30.11.2004, p. 1.

[3] OJ C 294, 30.11.2004, p. 99.

[4] OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

[5] OJ L 356, 31.12.1977, p. 1.

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