Brussels, 29/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - Preliminary agreement on the 2013 budget and the 2012 amending budget was reached in the afternoon of Thursday 29 November. On Monday, the Commission presented a revised budget to reboot negotiations. The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have come to agreement after a prolonged spell of friction. The Commission amendments were minor; it was above all about complying with the Lisbon Treaty under which, after a period of disagreement of more than 21 days, a fresh proposal has to be tabled (see EUROPE 10738).
The agreement is expected to be concluded in the next few days, indicated Patrizio Fiorilli, the spokesman for Budget Commissioner Januz Lewandowski. The preliminary agreement reached on Thursday 29 makes provision for spending of €132.84 billion, or €141.5 million more than the Council argued for in July. €150.88 billion will be in commitment appropriations, €1.1 billion more than in the Council proposal.
As for the amending budget for 2012, with payments for the Erasmus programmes and the structural funds in question, the preliminary agreement provides for a €6 billion increase in payments. The difference of almost €3 billion from the Commission's initial proposal concerns payment requests for which the Commission has to ascertain that conditions have been met (€1.4 billion) or closure payments for programmes under the current financial framework, 95% of which have already been paid. €100 million will also be redeployed within the 2012 budget.
The preliminary agreement still has to be confirmed by the European Parliament. The coordinators of the different groups are due to meet. Once approved, it will be put to the vote in two weeks' time, at the December plenary session. For the Council, Coreper will meet in the morning of 30 November. The 2013 budget saga will then be brought to a conclusion, within the set timescale, before the end of the year. (MD/transl.fl)