Translation of "Budget de fonctionnement et entretien " (French → English) :

12. Calls upon the Commission and the Member States to promote measures to raise the level of awareness for and the know-how of energy efficiency issues among all relevant stakeholders and all professional actors involved at all stages (assessment of existing energy performance, design and implementation of energy efficiency solutions, energy efficient operation and maintenance);

76. Takes note of the 2,9% increase in the Commission's share of the administrative budget; notes, however, that not all costs associated with the functioning and the setting up of the EEAS are included at this stage; takes the view that any additional requests in this regard should not impact negatively on the institutions’ current activities; strongly emphasises, therefore, the need to arrive at an effective structure, with a clear definition of responsibilities, in order to avoid any overlapping of tasks and unnecessary (adminis ...[+++]trative) costs to be borne by the budget that could otherwise further worsen the financial situation under this heading;

75. Takes note of the 2,9% increase in the Commission's share of the administrative budget; notes, however, that not all costs associated with the functioning and the setting up of the EEAS are included at this stage; takes the view that any additional requests in this regard should not impact negatively on the institutions' current activities; strongly emphasises, therefore, the need to arrive at an effective structure, with a clear definition of responsibilities, in order to avoid any overlapping of tasks and unnecessary (adminis ...[+++]trative) costs to be borne by the budget that could otherwise further worsen the financial situation under this heading;

2. Recalls that the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex) has an important and increasing role to play in the integrated management of external borders; therefore, proposes a subsequent increase in the operational expenditure of the agency for the financial year 2009; considers that the increase in the operational budget shall also enable Frontex to sustain the commitment to permanent missions; will require the Agency to appear before the responsible committee to present the 2009 work programme;

Going back to the annual tyranny of capital funding, I see it happen at the federal level, the provincial level, and the municipal level, where our priorities are not for capital but something else, and capital budgets get cut and maintenance isn't done—or the O and M budgets or capital budgets get cut, which are usually separate.

The discussions we held with the federal government were about having that money converted to an operating and maintenance fund that would have strings and criteria around it, but would allow the teams to ensure their sustainability through an operating and maintenance perspective.