Corruption is a major impediment to broadbased growth and development, undermining government revenue and expenditure on the delivery of basic services such as law and justice, health care, education, and the maintenance of essential infrastructure. The World Bank Institute has estimated that more than US$1 trillion is paid in bribes each year and, over the long run, countries that tackle corruption and improve the rule of law can increase their national incomes by as much as four times.

Corruption weakens institutions and makes states more vulnerable to crisis. It has the potential to undermine security in our partner countries and in the Asia-Pacific region more broadly. Security can be threatened when governments fail to deliver services, uphold law and order, maintain public confidence in institutions, or control the use of resources.

Corruption can lead to 'money politics' and undermine the decisions of democratically elected governments. It can also open the way for a variety of other crimes such as money laundering and trafficking in drugs, arms, and people.

Corruption is a major impediment to broadbased growth and development, undermining government revenue and expenditure on the delivery of basic services such as law and justice, health care, education, and the maintenance of essential infrastructure. The World Bank Institute has estimated that more than US$1 trillion is paid in bribes each year and, over the long run, countries that tackle corruption and improve the rule of law can increase their national incomes by as much as four times.

Corruption weakens institutions and makes states more vulnerable to crisis. It has the potential to undermine security in our partner countries and in the Asia-Pacific region more broadly. Security can be threatened when governments fail to deliver services, uphold law and order, maintain public confidence in institutions, or control the use of resources.

Corruption can lead to 'money politics' and undermine the decisions of democratically elected governments. It can also open the way for a variety of other crimes such as money laundering and trafficking in drugs, arms, and people.

Corruption is a major impediment to broadbased growth and development, undermining government revenue and expenditure on the delivery of basic services such as law and justice, health care, education, and the maintenance of essential infrastructure. The World Bank Institute has estimated that more than US$1 trillion is paid in bribes each year and, over the long run, countries that tackle corruption and improve the rule of law can increase their national incomes by as much as four times.

Corruption weakens institutions and makes states more vulnerable to crisis. It has the potential to undermine security in our partner countries and in the Asia-Pacific region more broadly. Security can be threatened when governments fail to deliver services, uphold law and order, maintain public confidence in institutions, or control the use of resources.

Corruption can lead to 'money politics' and undermine the decisions of democratically elected governments. It can also open the way for a variety of other crimes such as money laundering and trafficking in drugs, arms, and people.

Corruption is a major impediment to broadbased growth and development, undermining government revenue and expenditure on the delivery of basic services such as law and justice, health care, education, and the maintenance of essential infrastructure. The World Bank Institute has estimated that more than US$1 trillion is paid in bribes each year and, over the long run, countries that tackle corruption and improve the rule of law can increase their national incomes by as much as four times.

Corruption weakens institutions and makes states more vulnerable to crisis. It has the potential to undermine security in our partner countries and in the Asia-Pacific region more broadly. Security can be threatened when governments fail to deliver services, uphold law and order, maintain public confidence in institutions, or control the use of resources.

Corruption can lead to 'money politics' and undermine the decisions of democratically elected governments. It can also open the way for a variety of other crimes such as money laundering and trafficking in drugs, arms, and people.

The European Union's (EU) annual accounts and resource management are overseen by its external auditor, the European Court of Auditors, which draws up an annual report for the Council and the European Parliament. The Court's main task is to conduct an external, independent audit of the European Communities' annual accounts. As part of its activities, the Court of Auditors produces:

The European Union's (EU) annual accounts and resource management are overseen by its external auditor, the European Court of Auditors, which draws up an annual report for the Council and the European Parliament. The Court's main task is to conduct an external, independent audit of the European Communities' annual accounts. As part of its activities, the Court of Auditors produces:

The European Union's (EU) annual accounts and resource management are overseen by its external auditor, the European Court of Auditors, which draws up an annual report for the Council and the European Parliament. The Court's main task is to conduct an external, independent audit of the European Communities' annual accounts. As part of its activities, the Court of Auditors produces:

The Court of Auditors is entitled to access all documents required during the course of its audit.

In paragraph 1, the text reports that the EU's annual accounts and resource management are overseen by its external auditor. In other words, they

A strong economy and significant revenue growth, combined with better spending restraint, resulted in cutting the deficit in half in 2006 - three years ahead of the goal set forth by the President in 2004. Building on this success, the President has now set a new goal to achieve a balanced budget by 2012. A strong economy has been essential to our deficit reduction achievements, and to reach a balanced budget, steady economic growth is important. But it is also important to couple growth with spending discipline.

In the Budget, each program was closely reviewed to determine if it is among the Nation's top priorities and if the program is effective and producing the intended results. Failure to meet these criteria resulted in the proposed termination or reduction of 141 programs for a savings of $12.0 billion, a step that will help channel resources to more effective programs. We have also increased resources for program integrity efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse - including improper payments to ineligible recipients.

A strong economy and significant revenue growth, combined with better spending restraint, resulted in cutting the deficit in half in 2006 - three years ahead of the goal set forth by the President in 2004. Building on this success, the President has now set a new goal to achieve a balanced budget by 2012. A strong economy has been essential to our deficit reduction achievements, and to reach a balanced budget, steady economic growth is important. But it is also important to couple growth with spending discipline.

In the Budget, each program was closely reviewed to determine if it is among the Nation's top priorities and if the program is effective and producing the intended results. Failure to meet these criteria resulted in the proposed termination or reduction of 141 programs for a savings of $12.0 billion, a step that will help channel resources to more effective programs. We have also increased resources for program integrity efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse - including improper payments to ineligible recipients.

In paragraph 1, as regards the deficit reduction achievements, a strong economy is considered essential. In other words, it is seen as

Read the text below entitled "Budget Discipline" in order to answer question:

A strong economy and significant revenue growth, combined with better spending restraint, resulted in cutting the deficit in half in 2006 - three years ahead of the goal set forth by the President in 2004. Building on this success, the President has now set a new goal to achieve a balanced budget by 2012. A strong economy has been essential to our deficit reduction achievements, and to reach a balanced budget, steady economic growth is important. But it is also important to couple growth with spending discipline.

In the Budget, each program was closely reviewed to determine if it is among the Nation's top priorities and if the program is effective and producing the intended results. Failure to meet these criteria resulted in the proposed termination or reduction of 141 programs for a savings of $12.0 billion, a step that will help channel resources to more effective programs. We have also increased resources for program integrity efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse - including improper payments to ineligible recipients.