Brussels, 16/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - In its vote in Strasbourg on Wednesday 16 June, the European Parliament decided to set up a special committee to examine the future budgetary needs of the EU (see EUROPE 10143). The 50 members of the committee will be required to develop a position on the priorities for the next multiannual financial framework, which will begin, in 2014. The special committee will begin work in July.
The new committee will assess “the political challenges and the budgetary resources for a sustainable European Union after 2013” and will bring forward, before summer 2011, a report just prior to the Commission proposal on the next multiannual financial framework (post 2013). The committee will determine the Parliament's political policies, with an estimate of the sums required to meet the objectives and to come to a decision on how long the next financial framework should last (it is traditionally seven years, but MEPs want to change it to coincide with the terms of office of Parliament and Commission).
The European Parliament now has 20 permanent committees, two sub-committees and two special committees (this new committee on the next financial framework and the special committee on, the financial, economic and social crisis). (L.C./transl.rt)