On 3 July 2013, the European Parliament approved the EU multi-annual draft budget for 2014-2020, after obtaining the key priorities of its negotiation mandate, namely an almost complete flexibility of moving the non-paid funds (payment appropriations) from one year to another and a broader flexibility of transferring commitments. Moreover, the revision clause was introduced giving the possibility to the Parliament and the Commission to have a view point over the budget.
On 19 June, negotiations on the European multi-annual budget reached an outcome that the Parliament considered incomplete and discussions were resumed in the first week of July. President of the Parliament, Martin Schulz, the chief negotiator Alain Lamassoure (PPE, FR), Prime Minister Enda Kennz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso have reached an agreement which has also gained the support of the main political groups of the Parliament and of Member States.
On 3 July, the EP approved the EU multi-annual draft budget by accepting the budget long-term negotiated package. “It was a good day for Europe. Through its overwhelming vote in favour of the European budget for 2014-2020, the European Parliament has opened the way for putting in place a seven year growth and jobs fund worth almost EUR 1,000 Billion for the next 7 year”, declared the Financial Programming and Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski.
Thus, the Parliament obtained the key priorities of its negotiation mandate, namely an almost complete flexibility of moving the non-paid funds (payment appropriations) from one year to another and a broader fle-xibility of transferring commitments from one year to another and from one category of expenditure to another, in order to foster the fight against youth unemployment, research and the Erasmus for all programme and support for SMEs.
A success of the EP was the introduction of the revision clause in order to give the next Parliament and Commission a say on a budget. Revision will begin in 2016. The Commission will have to present a revision of the operation of the multi-annual financial framework while considering the respective economic situation. The revision will be accompanied by a draft revision proposal.
The Council said it would keep its pro-mise of covering the rest of the 2013 payments, estimated at EUR 11.2 Billion and the ministers of economy and finances in the Member States will make an official decision on the first instalment of EUR 7.3 Million by 9 July and on the second instalment by autumn. The Parliament will not approve on the Regulation of the multi-annual financial framework, nor will they adopt the 2014 budget until the Council will not adopt these budget amendments to cover the deficit, as recommended by the Commission. The outcome of negotiations will be included in a regulation and in an attached inter-institutional agreement that the Parliament will have to approve with its majority of members plus one. The Parliament is ready to vote for the regulation on a multiannual financial framework and inter-institutional agreement this autumn.
On 27 June, the EP and the Council reached an agreement for infrastructure projects regarding the Connecting Europe Facility, the new European fund being estimated at EUR 30 Billion dedicated to joint-interest projects for Trans-European transport networks, energy and telecommunications.
[ by Pamela Luică ]Share on:
