Brussels, 06/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 13 December, the European Parliament is expected to approve the arrangements for additional funding for the ITER nuclear fusion nuclear research project in France, namely €1.3 billion in 2012 and 2013 (see EUROPE N.10509). The Council must also approve the agreement.
The EP budgets committee approved, on Monday 5 December, the agreement of 1 December between the EP and Council, providing for €840 million (in commitment appropriations) to be made available through review of the current multiannual financial framework. The ceiling on Heading 1 (competitiveness for growth and employment) will be increased by €650 million in 2012 and €190 million in 2013 (in commitments). To compensate for this, the commitment ceilings for preservation and management of natural resources (Heading 2) and administration (Heading 5) will be decreased in 2011 and 2012.
Of the remaining €460 million (in commitments), €100 million are already foreseen in the 2012 budget. The other €360 million will be financed during the budgetary procedure for 2013. The annual ceilings for payment appropriations will be adjusted to keep an appropriate relationship between commitments and payments. The ceiling for total payments will be increased by €580 million for 2013, offset by a corresponding decrease in the 2011 ceiling. (LC/transl.jl)