Brussels, 25/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 November, the European Parliament adopted by a huge majority (486 to 64 with 21 abstentions), a joint resolution tabled by the main political parties (EPP, S&D, ALDE and Greens/EFA) on the conditions it is setting out for agreement on the EU's budget for 2011.
The EP says it is prepared to agree to the Council position of a moderate rise in payment appropriations (2.91% up on 2010) but sets out three conditions for overall agreement on the 2011 budget, namely: - 1) reaching agreement on genuine flexibility mechanisms (increasing the budget by up to 0.03% of EU GNI, see related article above). Such mechanisms would be passed by the EP and the Council on a qualified majority vote in order to ensure proper financing in 2011 and the following tax years of policies arising from the new powers conferred upon the EU by the Lisbon Treaty and the EU 2020 strategy, explains the resolution. Such flexibility has already been used to find cash for Galileo and €1 billion for the Food Fund (emergency aid for developing countries suffering from hikes in the price of basic foodstuffs). It will also be used to finance ITER. What the EP wants is for the same flexibility to continue in the future; - 2) commitment by the Commission to unveil by 1 July 2011 “solid proposals” on new EU own resources, and a commitment from the Council to examine these proposals with the EP during the negotiations of the upcoming multiannual financial framework (MFF). The president of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, told MEPs on Tuesday that the Commission would submit such proposals before the end of June 2011. Article 312, paragraph 5, of the EU Treaty stipulates that throughout the procedure leading to adoption of the financial framework, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission shall take “any measure necessary” to facilitate adoption; - 3) agreement between the three EU institutions on how they will work together, including the EP's involvement in the process of negotiating the upcoming MFF, the attendance of relevant meetings by MEPs and the holding of regular meetings of the presidents of the EP, Council and Commission (Articles 324 and 312 of the EU Treaty). (L.C./transl.fl)