Sari LEHKONEN

What Sari LEHKONEN has said (4)

• “Yes. We very much apologize for the delay submitting the file. This is our first engagement with this type of building sales, for which no internal precedent exists. And there was initially an understanding that the automatic extensions mentioned in the deed would not be, would not require to be passed through the prior approval procedure. We are always happy to work in a very transparent manner, and we will be more vigilant in the future when submitting the files just in time. We are very keen on seeing EU money well spent, and we are very keen on having the EU staff housed in an appropriate manner. Thank you.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions · Discharge of EU institutions and agencies · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• “And release was foreseen for these buildings that we are talking about in end June 26th and end September 26th. And in general, there is a big scarcity on the real estate market right now, and especially in the Prospection sector of the European quarter, the Commission has contracted virtually every compliant building that could be delivered in 26 and 27, except for one building contracted by the parliament itself and another whose developer is filing for bankruptcy right now. So it is exactly to safeguard the commission from this type of adverse events that the clause was foreseen in the deed of sale. The clause allows the Commission an automatic right to extend the use of routes under already fixed terms and conditions that are very clear. This also means that the Commission can pursue its building policy on its own conditions, rather than being dependent on prices and on individual building owners and developers. Hence, to ensure business continuity of the DGs and services placed in the buildings until the programs move to their future buildings under the building policy. A total of six buildings are proposed to be extended in 2006. We are talking about Lua 86, Lua 102 130, Joseph 79, Joseph 254 and spa three. The extension varies from five months up to 19 months. The total cost of extending this usufruct contracts for the periods that I just mentioned would amount to around €30 million.”
  Size of EU budget · Discharge of EU institutions and agencies · EU housing policy
• “This sum is already included in the planning in the 2627 mid-term budgetary planning, and it's foreseen in the Working Document 2026, section seven. Submitted in June 2005. So the budgetary impact of the proposed extensions could be considered neutral, giving the financial terms and conditions of the extension that the use of fruit costs would represent. Um, thank you, Mr. Chair. Madam Vice Chair, honourable members, for your attention. We remain available for any questions in this regard, and then I can continue with the prior approval. So on the basis of what I just mentioned, we wish to ask for the prior approval of the budgetary authority for the extension of the six currently occupied buildings to 86 1021 30 Joseph D 79 Joseph D 54 spa three four periods from four months up to 19 months. Additionally, we wish to submit for the prior information to the budgetary authority three building files relating to a building of 20,000m² within the European quarter, designated as B425. Secondly, a building of 15,000m² within the European quarter designated as B5 25, and the building finally of up to 100,000m² within the northern quarter, designated as B6 25. Thank you so much for your attention.”
  Size of EU budget · Discharge of EU institutions and agencies · Conditions to access EU budget
• “Thank you. Chair. Vice chair. Honourable members. I'm here to present to you for prior approval the proposal to extend the use of fruits of six currently commission occupied buildings. The extension would go for up to 19 months. You all remember that this is linked to the sale of the 23 buildings. The notarial deed of the sale was signed 29th of April 24, and by this deed the commission sold to the Société Générale de participation de Investissement SFP, a portfolio of 23 buildings located in the Brussels-Capital region. Six of these buildings were vacated immediately by the Commission. For the remaining 17 buildings, the Commission has retained usufructuary rights and on these buildings up until different dates of release. These dates of release vary from on June 26th to end September 29th. So, as said, the Commission retains the explicit right to extend the use of periods of any or all of these buildings by simple notification, and the terms and conditions are fixed in the deed, and you have already seen, as you know, the the contents of the deed have been approved by the budgetary authority during April 24th. So now the need to extend the six buildings in 2026 results from the fact that it has proved practically impossible to secure the required replacement buildings in time for the time of the release.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions · Size of EU budget · Discharge of EU institutions and agencies