Brussels, 11/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council of Ministers has reduced the expenditure necessary for the operation of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in 2011 from €475.80 million to €469.85 million. On Monday 11 October, the Council adopted without debate (Poland abstained) the letter of amendment No 1 to the draft budget for 2011 which relates to expenditure in Section II (European Council and Council), Section III (Commission) and new Section X (European External Action Service) of the EU budget and modifications to the corresponding establishment plans (see EUROPE 10225 on the initial proposal). The European Parliament will debate and vote on this issue at the next plenary session (18-21 October).
The letter of amendment, submitted by the European Commission in September, seeks to create a Section X (EEAS), containing the budgetary structure and list of posts sought, in the draft 2011 budget.
Total expenditure proposed by the Council for the new Section X (EEAS) will be €469.85 million, including: - the reduction in credit appropriations and payment appropriations (-€5.5 million) already made in the Council's position on the 2011 draft budget; - a further reduction in credit and payment appropriations related to 118 additional posts (for a total amount of €0.35 million), as the Council did not accept the inclusion of the 1.85% increase linked to the adjustment of the 2009 salaries, pending the decision of the Court of Justice.
The Council also adopted a statement in which it notes “the great importance that the establishment of the EEAS should be guided by the principle of cost-efficiency aiming towards budget neutrality”. The concept of budget neutrality “should be seen in the context of resources within the EU budget, including when deciding on any new premises”. The Council expects a report on the savings/redeployment plan early in 2011, outlining concrete steps to be taken in the short and medium terms to move towards budget neutrality. (L.C./transl.rt)