Brussels, 11/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - At the informal meeting of the General Affairs Council in Horsens, Denmark, on Sunday 10 and Monday 11 June, the Presidency said that progress had been made in discussions on the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 and highlighted the measures that will have to be taken to reboot growth. The two issues will be at the heart of discussions at the next European Council on 28-29 June.
Danish European Affairs Minister Nicolai Wammen admitted that the Presidency will still not put figures for the 2014-2020 financial perspectives to the European Council. The Danes were prepared to bring forward figures, but the member states, the European Commission and the European Parliament all felt that it was too early in the process and that it was better to hold off.
Wammen said that a frank and open discussion had been held on the negotiating box on the financial framework. “I believe we have made some good progress but, of course, there is still work to be done. We still expect to present the negotiating box for the heads of state and government at the end of June”, he added. It will be up to the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the second half of the year to finalise discussions on the financial framework for the next planning period.
There are those who want cohesion and those who prefer better spending, Wammen said in reply to a question from the press, but he believes that a compromise can be found that will allow all 27 member states to agree on the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020. “We knew from the start”, that the 2014-2020 budget would not be agreed at the Council meeting at the end of June, he added. (LC/transl.rt)