European Parliament
Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE ),
in writing
(PT)
I voted in favour of ratifying the agreement reached between Parliament and the Council of Ministers, for the following reasons:
1. The excellent negotiations by Portugal and Madeira achieved their goals.
2. Following pressure from Parliament, EUR 4 billion has been added to the spending limit.
3. Rules have been established with a view to the Member States taking greater responsibility for the management of European funds.
4. Parliament has been given a more prominent role in the review of the Community budget, which is to take place by 2009.
I wish to point out that I was one of those who, by voting, contributed towards Parliament’s decision to reject the budgetary agreement reached by the Heads of State or Government in mid-December 2005. This obliged the Council of Ministers to sit around the negotiating table with Parliament with a view to reaching a position that would express the common will of both institutions.
I should like to conclude by pointing out that this agreement falls well short of being completely satisfactory. It is, however, the agreement that was possible under the current circumstances.

