The Budgetary Control Committee is insisting on the setting up of a joint Parliament-Commission group to follow up in particular the supervision of the structural funds. This was the major development from Wednesday's votes in the committee, which saw all the EU's institutions and agencies accorded a recommendation that Parliament grant discharge for their financial management in 2006.

Despite repeated threats of a postponement, the Budgetary Control Committee is recommending that the Commission be granted discharge for its implementation of Community expenditure in 2006.

Structural Funds: a practical solution
 
On the key issue in this discharge procedure, the management of the structural funds, a practical solution has been found: the Commission’s action plan on better supervision and co-management of the Structural Funds, will be the monitored on a quarterly basis.