File n° 46 

I. –  the Assessment and Monitoring Mission (MEC)

The Assessment and Monitoring Mission (Mission d’évaluation et de contrôle, MEC) is based on the National Audit Office of the British Parliament. It was set up within the Finance Committee in February 1999 following the conclusions of a working group on parliamentary monitoring and the efficiency of public spending, which also initiated the Institutional Law on Finance Bills (LOLF). This working group, at the end of its work, recommended the setting-up of a structure which would be responsible for the interviewing of political and administrative leaders on the management of their funds and which would carry out in-depth investigations into sectors of public policy.

This mission has the specificity of being co-chaired by an M.P. of the governing majority and an M.P. of the opposition. Its 19 members all belong to the Finance Committee and are appointed by the political groups. The Chairman and the Rapporteur général are by right members of the mission. Its membership is based more on equality than proportionality and the other standing committees may request certain of their members to attend it.

The choice of themes dealt with by the Assessment and Monitoring Mission is decided by the Bureau of the Finance Committee.

The Assessment and Monitoring Mission works in collaboration with the Court of Auditors which is consulted in advance on the choice of themes decided upon. Members of the Court of Auditors attend its meetings. The starting point of its work is often a report requested from the Court in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution and paragraph 2 of Article 58 of the Institutional Law on Finance Bills.

Its reports are increasingly entrusted to two M.P.s simultaneously. This is a way to bring the work of the governing majority, opposition and other standing committees together in order to reach consensual conclusions.

The working methods (essentially interviews) are those of all the fact-finding missions. The interviews are systematically open to the public and to the press. However, the Institutional Law on Finance Bill grants the MEC the large powers of the Rapporteurs spéciaux of the Finance Committee to summon whom it may deem appropriate and gather relevant information, with the only exception being subjects covered by confidentiality (national defence, state security, judicial investigations and medical issues).

The conclusions of the Assessment and Monitoring Mission (which deliberates in camera) are submitted to the Finance Committee so that it may decide whether or not to publish a report. Its proposals, focusing on concrete measures to improve public policies, are sometimes followed up by a report or a speech delivered before the Finance Committee within one year.

Moreover, in compliance with Article 60 of the Institutional Law on Finance Bills, whenever the work of the MEC gives rise to observations addressed to the Government, the latter is bound to provide a written reply within two months.

Information Reports of the Assessment and Monitoring Mission

XIth Parliament

II. –  Assessment and Monitoring Mission
for SOCIAL security finance laws (MECSS)

The Assessment and Monitoring Mission for Social Security Finance Laws (MECSS) is inspired by the Assessment and Monitoring Mission of the Finance Committee. It was set up within the Committee for Cultural, Family and Social Affairs in December 2004 in accordance with the provisions of Article 38 of Law no. 2004‑810 of August 13, 2004 concerning health insurance. This provision features today in article L.O. 111-10 of the Social Security Code.

This mission provides a continual follow-up of the implementation of the social security finance laws. It is co-chaired by a member of the governing majority and a member of the opposition. Its 18 members all belong to the Committee for Cultural, Family and Social Affairs and are appointed by the political groups. Its membership is more based on equality than proportionality and the other standing committees may request certain of their members to attend it.

The choice of themes dealt with by the mission belongs to the Committee for Cultural, Family and Social Affairs on proposals from its Bureau and after consultation with the Court of Auditors.

The working methods (essentially interviews, but also on-the-ground visits) are those of all the fact-finding missions. The interviews are open to the public and to the press, allowing for exceptions. In accordance with Article L.O. 111-9 of the Social Security Code, the MECSS is vested with large powers to summon whom it may deem appropriate and gather relevant information, with the only exception being subjects covered by secrecy (national defence, state security, judicial investigations and medical issues).

In accordance with Article 47-1 of the Constitution, which states that the Court of Auditors assists Parliament in the monitoring of the enforcement of the social security finance laws, members of the Court attend the interviews of the MECSS and take part in preparatory meetings. The Court also carries out assessments of the institutions covered by its remit and the mission may avail of this information.

In 2006, the MECSS also obtained the assistance of the Inspection générale des Affaires sociales (Social Affairs Monitoring Department).

The conclusions of the MECSS (which deliberates in camera) are submitted to the Committee for Cultural, Family and Social Affairs so that it may decide whether or not to publish a report.

In compliance with Article L.O. 111-9-3 of the Social Security Code, whenever the work of the MECSS gives rise to observations addressed to the Government or to an institution in charge of social security, the latter are bound to provide a written reply within two months.

The information reports of the MECSS