OPINION No 10/98 of the European Court of Auditors on certain proposals for regulations within the Agenda 2000 framework
22. 12. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 401/1 I (Information) COURT OF AUDITORS of the European Court of Auditors on certain proposals for regulations within the Agenda 2000 framework OPINION No 10/98 (98/C 401/01) GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE COURT’S OPINION ON THE PROPOSALS FOR REGULATIONS WITHIN THE AGENDA 2000 FRAMEWORK On 18 March 1998 the Commission submitted a number of proposals for new legislation within the Agenda 2000 framework. The proposals can be grouped as follows: — eight proposals for regulations concerning the reform of the common agricultural policy (COM(1998) 158 final), with an evaluation of their financial implications. Four of the proposals relate to the common market organisations for cereals, beef and veal and milk and milk products. Two others are concerned with systems of direct support for producers, either for certain arable crops or to establish common rules for these systems. Finally, there are two proposals concerning support for rural development and the financing of the common agricultural policy, — four proposals for regulations concerning the Structural Funds (COM(1998) 131 final). One of these is concerned with the general rules applicable to the Funds and the three others relate to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Social Fund and fisheries respectively, — three proposals for regulations concerning pre-accession. One of the proposals aims to establish a pre-accession structural instrument (COM(1998) 138 final) and another relates to pre-accession aid for agriculture and rural development (COM(1998) 153 final). A third proposal for a regulation (COM(1998) 150 final, amended by COM(1998) 551 final of 30 September 1998) concerns the coordination of pre-accession aid, — a proposal for a regulation amending Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2728/94 establishing a Guarantee Fund for external actions. In view of the significant financial implications of these proposals, the Council asked the Court of Auditors on 29 May 1998 to inform it of any observations which the Court wished to make on these financial aspects. C 401/2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 12. 98 The Court’s work has focused on the four main areas covered by the proposals in question, namely continuing the reform of the common agricultural policy, improving structural policies, preparing for enlargement through pre-accession instruments and the reform of the Guarantee Fund for external actions. This opinion deals with each of these four areas in turn. The opinion was adopted by the Court of Auditors in Luxembourg at the meeting of 29 October 1998. For the Court of Auditors Bernhard FRIEDMANN President