35. Stresses that the implementation of the 5 % staff reduction target, as decided in the framework of the Agreement on the 2014-2020 MFF, should continue in 2016; welcomes the confirmation not to extend the staffing reductions to staff of the political groups, which is fully in line with the Parliament´s abovementioned resolutions on the 2014 and 2015 budgets;

79. Is surprised that once again this year the Council proposes linear cuts to the administrative expenditure for the institutions; reiterates that the budget of each Union institution, due to its specific mission and situation, should be treated individually, without ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions, taking into account the particular development stage, operational tasks, management goals, human resources needs and building policies of each institution; strongly disagrees with the Council's approach which horizontally inflates the vacancy rate by one percentage point, thus artificially increasing the margin; underlines that this increas ...[+++]e, in addition to the posts already suppressed by the 1 % staff reduction, would force certain institutions, already impacted by the above mentioned staff reduction, to freeze recruitment to vacant posts, thus hampering their functioning;

80. Is surprised that once again this year the Council proposes linear cuts to the administrative expenditure for the institutions; reiterates that the budget of each Union institution, due to its specific mission and situation, should be treated individually, without ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions, taking into account the particular development stage, operational tasks, management goals, human resources needs and building policies of each institution; strongly disagrees with the Council's approach which horizontally inflates the vacancy rate by one percentage point, thus artificially increasing the margin; underlines that this increas ...[+++]e, in addition to the posts already suppressed by the 1 % staff reduction, would force certain institutions, already impacted by the above mentioned staff reduction, to freeze recruitment to vacant posts, thus hampering their functioning;

110. Partially restores appropriations for the Committee of Regions to meet its existing statutory and legal obligations in the field of annual lease payments and staff salaries; notes that Council's drastic cut on remunerations and allowances would amount to applying twice the 1 % staff cut (already included in the DB) to this institution;

3. Notes the Agency's reply that the reduction of staff was due to the fact that during the first two years of implementation of its fees and charges regulation, revenue was insufficient to cover forecasted costs; notes that the Agency refers to a staff policy plan 2008-10, agreed with the Commission, in which the reduction of staff is reflected;

The distinction between the two types of control requirements for the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, namely verification checks to be carried out by management and sample checks to be carried out by staff independent of management and payment functions, is an essential element in the control framework for the Funds.