Brussels, 21/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 21 November, the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, spoke about the 2013 budget, on which negotiations broke down in mid-November (see EUROPE 10730), saying that the Parliament can no longer accept an agreement at any price. He stressed that the Parliament had accepted a low level of payment appropriations for the 2011 and 2012 budgets, but “it was clear that with that level, the EU would not be able to get itself out”. This is why the Council and the Parliament have committed to setting place an extension of credit, if necessary. However, everyone is aware that the Commission has asked for €9 billion for 2012 (draft budget no.6/2012), and that the Council has not agreed to this for the time being.
Schulz called for an agreement on the extra payment appropriations for 2012 to be concluded before any discussions on the 2013 budget. “If, by 13 December, we do not know how many bills there are still to pay, we cannot decide on the budgetary requirements for 2013”, said the President of the Parliament. “We are prepared to be serious and constructive to find a quick solution to the problems. We are prepared to negotiate and we hope that after the Commission has presented the new draft budget 2013, the Council will understand that the bills have to be paid”, Schulz said. In the event of a breakdown at the end of the year over the 2013 budget, the expenditure may be allocated on a monthly basis under the provisional twelfths system, “which is not ideal”, he concluded. (LC/transl.fl)