Press Release: Commission determined to match responsibilities with resources

At its meeting on the 4 October 2000 the European Commission reiterated its determination to match its responsibilities to its resources. For the first time it rejected calls from the European Parliament to undertake activities for which the necessary resources are not available. President Prodi stated: “A responsible public service has to take tough decisions. The Commission cannot sensibly take on more work without the necessary staff. We cannot and will not accept new responsibilities, however worthwhile they may be, for which adequate resources are not available”.