Brussels, 15/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 23 October, during the plenary session, the European Parliament is expected to give its support to the general level of spending proposed by the Commission for the multiannual framework 2014-2020, particularly with regard to funding for agriculture and cohesion policy. It will insist on the right to block the agreement on the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework if no compromise is obtained on the “income” section of the EU budget. On Thursday 11 October, MEPs from the EP budgets committee adopted the progress report of Ivailo Kalfin (S&D, Bulgaria) and Reimer Böge (PPE, Germany) on the 2014-2020 framework. They are highlighting the need to increase the budget for research and competitiveness, in line with what European leaders promised last June.
MEPs believe that an EU budget that is well oriented, on a sure footing and sufficient is necessary to help coordinate national efforts for extricating the EU from the ongoing crisis. They are calling for a significant increase in the budget for competitiveness, SMEs, entrepreneurship, sustainable infrastructure and funding for research and innovation. MEPs want the budget for cohesion policy to being maintained “at least at the level of the 2007-2013 period”. They also believe that the minimum should be maintained for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) but that this should be used more efficiently. MEPs are calling for a more transparent and fairer method for budget funding, without rebates or corrective mechanisms but with a system for own VAT resources that is simpler. They would also like a new tax on financial transactions that could be used for reducing member states' contributions if they introduce this tax. (LC/trans.fl)