Brussels, 14/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - MEPs are worried that agriculture and cohesion policy are the main losers in the EUROPE 2020 strategy on “smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”. This strategy will, however, be used to develop he European Union's next multiannual financial framework, beginning in 2014. With regard to revenue, the Commission will propose a return to its original philosophy and therefore resort to fewer wealth-based national contributions (EUROPE 10234).
Members of the special European Parliament committee on “post-2013 political challenges and budgetary resources” (the date when the current multiannual financial framework expires) held discussions on Thursday 14 October in Brussels. These discussions focused on the implications of the EU 2020 strategy on the post-2013 multi annual financial framework. The rapporteur Salvador Garriga Polledo (EPP, Spain) conceded that the negotiations for the next multiannual financial framework (beginning in 2014) would be, “very complicated”. When the draft 2011 budget is aligned on flagship programmes from the EUROPE 2020 strategy, one observes that these initiatives only represent 43% of total Community spending for 2011 (18% for section 2, which includes agriculture, only10% for external actions, 67% for cohesion policy, 86% for action linked to growth, such as research and European transport networks). The rapporteur asked the following question, “where is this lost entity going to be found, the 57%, which is missing? Probably, a little of it in cohesion policy and a little from agricultural policy”. This picture, according to Mr Garriga, is quite telling, just at a time when the reflection is in full swing on the current financial framework review and preparations for the next financial framework in 2014. He explained that it was impossible to quantify spending for the 2020 strategy, “without leaving very large sectors outside. This is something that the European Parliament budgets committee does not want”. These flagships are not sufficiently defined, regretted the rapporteur. He also pointed out that the EP had a mandate for defending a, “powerful cohesion policy, which is appropriately funded and covers all of the regions”. He also defended the first pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on direct aid and market spending in certain areas. The Commission of José Manuel Barroso, however, is not retaining essential CAP objectives apart from improving food security and helping fight climate change. The rapporteur was also concerned by the fact that, “most spending” on external action would not be covered by the 2020 strategy. He concluded with a question, “and what are we going to do about the administrative spending?”
Hervé Jouanjean, the director of DG budget at the European Commission pointed out that, “the fundamental condition for the EUROPE 2020 strategy succeeding, resides first and foremost in the member states. It is also, primarily, the member states that have to make this policy succeed. This is accompanied by actions that the Commission can pursue through the European budget”. He was unable to say what the Commission would assert in its mid-term review (to be adopted on 19 October). Nonetheless, he did say that, “obviously, the 2020 objective is at the centre of the concept the Commission is seeking to develop for the next financial framework, which will be discussed next year”. With regard to the role of the national budgets, he said that, “it is important to work on the question of complementarity between action at national and European levels”.
Jan Olbrycht (PPG, Poland) asked, “what is the link between policies in the treaties and the EUROPE 2020 strategy objectives?” Danuta Maria Hübner (EPP, Poland) repeated that she, “is still just as sceptical about the EU 2020 strategy”. She said that they had to ensure that this strategy was a, “genuine European project”, which relaunches economic growth, job creation and helps to, “strengthen Europe's unity”. She asked for the role of the European Commission to be strengthened in all areas of this strategy and said that the EU should, “play an active role in controlling and implementing the strategy”.
The European Commission stated, in brief, that with regard to policies relating to the economy, there were, “other policies that have to be developed, in the area of external relations, support for our developing partners and in the field of justice and home affairs”.
Several speakers raised the issue of own resources used to develop the EU budget. Irrespective of the question of increasing EU budget revenue, the reflection, “is about a return to what was the initial philosophy of how our system operated”, explained Hervé Jouanjean. The first own resource is customs duties (according to the treaties). The director of DG budget explained that, “there had been a gradual drift towards national contributions and gross national product, which had expanded. We are now reaching a rate of 70% of Community budget resources financed out of GNP”. The Commission concluded that the question was not one of whether to increase the budget through new resources but rather, “developing something which is more coherent, with what we had at the beginning of European construction, and doing this in a way that ensures greater neutrality in funding the Community budget”. (L.C.)