These indications should be based on an assessment of the necessary rate of reduction in line with the Union's long term climate goals and the implications for the development of cost effective CO2 reducing technology for cars.

7. Where it is not possible or practicable to quantify precisely the amount of ineligible costs for each grant concerned, the amounts to be reduced or recovered may be determined by extrapolating the reduction or recovery rate applied to the grants for which the systemic or recurrent errors or irregularities have been demonstrated, or, where ineligible costs cannot serve as a basis for determining the amounts to be reduced or recovered, by applying a flat rate, having regard to the principle of proportionality.

7. Where it is not possible or practicable to quantify precisely the amount of ineligible costs for each grant concerned, the amounts to be reduced or recovered may be determined by extrapolating the reduction or recovery rate applied to the grants for which the systemic or recurrent errors or irregularities have been demonstrated, or, where ineligible costs cannot serve as a basis for determining the amounts to be reduced or recovered, by applying a flat rate, having regard to the principle of proportionality.

55. Notes that this decrease was reached through an increase in the so-called standard abatement rate for staff (non financed posts) which prevents some improvement in the occupancy rates of the establishment plans approved by the Budget Authority (through its direct impact on recruitments); wonders in this respect how Council is able to estimate the possible staffing levels in the services of the Commission with more accuracy than the Commission services; also rejects those cuts on items of expenditure for which the Commission already proposed net savings in their draft budgets (e.g.: Publications Office, studies and consultations, eq ...[+++]uipment and furniture);

59. Notes that this decrease was reached through an increase in the so-called standard abatement rate for staff (non-financed posts) which prevents some improvement in the occupancy rates of the establishment plans approved by the budget authority (through its direct impact on recruitments); wonders in this respect how Council is able to estimate the possible staffing levels in the services of the Commission with more accuracy than the Commission services; also rejects those cuts on items of expenditure for which the Commission already proposed net savings in their draft budgets (e.g. Publications Office, studies and consultations, equ ...[+++]ipment and furniture);

36. Recalls that, according to the Commission analysis, stepping up to the 30% reduction target with 25% domestic effort now represents an increase of EUR 11 billion as compared to 2008 projections for the absolute costs of the climate and energy package in 2020; notes the Commission’s assessment that this will raise the carbon price in the EU ETS to some EUR 30/tonne of CO2, i.e. similar to the level estimated necessary for the 20% reduction target in 2008;