British Prime Minister Tony Blair told MEPs that he will act urgently to restore EU funding to several social programmes involving projects for disadvantaged groups such as the disabled. The European Court of Justice had declared the programmes illegal, and the Commission had frozen spending on numerous programmes, although funding totalling some Ecu 394 million had been approved by the European Parliament. These projects included help for the developing countries and aid for Bosnia.
The Court ruled in favour of the British government who argued that the money could not be spent without the adoption of a proper legal act. But Mr Blair was at pains to point out it was Council's view that spending should only go ahead with proper legal certainty and that it should not be considered a judgement on the programmes themselves.
The ruling recognises that the Commission can still authorise spending without a specific legal base in certain circumstances. The Prime Minister reassured MEPs that "at my request, Presidency representatives will meet Commission and Parliament representatives on June 23rd to identify an early and satisfactory solution. This will also entail Council and Parliament ensuring the rapid adoption of those programmes where Commission-proposed legal bases are on the table."