Brussels, 27/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The ADLE party at the European Parliament has expressed satisfaction with the common agreement reached by the European Parliament's Special Committee on Political Challenges and EU Budget Resources, describing the outcome in a press release as ambitious, yet reasonable (see EUROPE 10387). Several Member States use short-term budget calculation measures to freeze spending at a level that would not allow the EU to carry out its work over the next seven years, adds the ADLE.
The Special Committee says that spending should be increased by 5% across the new programming period (2014-2020) compared with 2013. The report adds new measures to ensure greater flexibility in annual budget management. In terms of financing, the ADLE has managed to get the agreement by the Special Committee to take the approach of new own resources to replace resources based on national gross domestic income (GNI) in a transparent system, with the removal of rebates of any kind, explains the press release.
Carl Halglund expressed disappointment that the EP had not been prepared to support the idea ensure a greater shifting of funding from one heading to another in the budget to guarantee sufficient funding for future priorities. Guy Verhofstadt commented that the EU urgently needed to renew its basic budget principles and provide itself with a system of own resources that respects Member States' sovereignty for taxation while getting rid of the game of 'who's the greatest loser' when it comes to Member States' financial contributions. (L.C./transl.fl)