Brussels, 13/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - In its budgetary guidelines for 2014, which were adopted on Tuesday 12 February, the Council of Ministers of the European Union states that the EU budget for next year “should take into account the current economic situation, and also contribute resources to mitigating its negative effects, notably by boosting growth and employment”. The Council also considers that it is necessary to find a balance between budgetary consolidation and investment for growth.
The Council states that the budgetary procedure for 2014 will be the first in a new programming period. It reaffirms that there is a need to maintain budgetary discipline at all levels. The Council is of the opinion that the budgetary procedure should avoid issues not directly linked to the annual budget negotiation. Lastly, the Council underlines the importance - once an agreement of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) is reached - of quickly taking the necessary steps to ensure that all EU programmes can commence without delay and in an efficient way. Moreover, the Council stresses the need to leave sufficient margins in order to be able to deal with unforeseen circumstances, and that this will be all the more important in the first year of a new programming period.
Amending budgets. The Council is of the opinion that recourse to corrective budgetary tools, such as amending budgets, should be kept to a strict minimum and in line with the financial regulation. However, if corrective measures prove to be necessary, the Council reaffirms its commitment to take a position on a potential draft amending budget as soon as possible. The Council notes with concern the volume of outstanding commitments.
Administrative expenditure. The Council supports European Commissioner Janusz Lewandowki's letter of 7 January 2013, inviting all the institutions to limit their requests when preparing their estimates for 2014 and to continue, in 2014, to reduce the number of posts in their establishment plans. The Council urges the institutions to reduce, or at least not to increase, their administrative expenditure and to request financing only for real needs, in order to give a positive signal to EU citizens.
With regard to the agencies, the Council regrets the “recurrent over-budgeting” of some agencies, which has led to unjustified carry-overs. It reiterates the importance of keeping their funding under firm control and limiting it to real needs. It also urges the Commission to carefully check, and if necessary revise, the requests for funds and posts proposed by the agencies, taking into account past problems with budget implementation and recruitment of staff.
These guidelines will be given to the European Parliament and Commission. The Commission is expected to present its draft budget for 2014 in about two months' time. (LC/transl.fl)