Brussels, 03/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Not unexpectedly, several member states are unhappy with the European Commission's draft budget for 2012. At the Council's financial committee meeting on Tuesday 5 May, the five countries - the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Finland - which had, in December, called for the European budget to be frozen until 2020, arguing that all governments in Europe were having to show restraint, felt that the increase proposed by the Commission (in all, a rise of 4.9% in payment appropriations compared with 2011) was too great. They believe that the Commission's objectives (economic recovery, growth and job creation) could be achieved with a lower spending level. They were supported in their view by three other countries, including Sweden.
The intention of the Presidency of the Council is to reach agreement on the Council position at the latest by the Council of EU ministers with responsibility for the budget at the end of July, before opening negotiations with the European Parliament.
Amending budgets 2011. The financial committee reached agreement on the Council position on amending budgets 2 and 3 for 2011.
With regard to amending budget No 2/2011, the Council wants to finance the €19.55 million allocated from the Solidarity Fund to Slovenia, Croatia and the Czech Republic after the heavy rainfall in those countries from redeployment, rather than through new money, as the Commission proposed. The Council will formally adopt its position at the end of May, after which negotiations with the European Parliament will begin.
As for amending budget No 3/2011, the financial committee approved repayment to member states of the 2010 budget surplus of €4.5 billion. The Council will adopt its position in June. Negotiations with the European Parliament will then begin. (L.C./transl.rt)