Brussels, 07/03/02013 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament's position is becoming clearer on the multi-annual financial framework (MFF) 2014-2020. Already doing the rounds, the draft resolution to be adopted on Wednesday next promises to bring rejection of the political agreement reached on 8 February by the heads of government. Although MEPs appear resigned to the fact that they will not be discussing the meagre figures in the agreement, they do, however, intend to place the bar very high when it comes to their three red lines: revision, flexibility and own resources. The latest tweak to parliamentary blackmail is that there will be no agreement on MFF until the question of the amending budget 2013 has been settled.
MEPs will no doubt carry out their threats by endorsing, on Wednesday, a resolution without pity for the Council and its conclusions on the MFF. The current phrasing suggests that the Parliament rejects the political agreement in its current form and that it cannot be accepted unless certain essential conditions are met. Although the Parliament affirms its desire to negotiate with a view to coming to a swift agreement, for a “modern” budget that is more structurally in deficit, it does not rule out the idea of renewing the 2013 budget next year if no agreement is reached by end December. The Parliament will not be trapped within a timeframe, the resolution states.
Concrete revision clause. It comes as no surprise to find a revision clause at the top of the list of MEPs' “essential conditions”. The resolution consolidates this: once the Parliament and the Commission have been renewed, it will be imperative to re-open the MFF file (around 2015). MEPs are adamant that this revision should be legally binding. They are counting on a European budget that is better adapted to fostering economic recovery in the next few years. That is why the resolution even evokes a sunset clause (as suggested by Guy Verhofstadt, Liberal). Revision under the new legislature would, moreover, ensure the MFF's democratic legitimacy, the resolution states.
Own resources at 60%. MEPs also wish to bring about “in-depth reform” of the whole own resources system. In their mind, it would be necessary to be able to reduce the share of GNI-based contributions to the EU budget to a maximum of 40% and phase out all existing rebates and correction mechanisms.
It goes without saying that, for the Parliament, the proceeds from the financial transactions tax should be allocated “at least partly” to the EU budget, the resolution states. If no significant reduction in national contributions is made then the Commission should present other own resources, the resolution announces (in case the Council tones down the tabled Commission's proposals too much).
Maximum flexibility. Finally, MEPs believe it is no longer a matter of continuing to establish annual budgets that do not fully use commitments and payments. It is imperative to show proof of flexibility, not only between budgetary lines but also between financial years.
Mapping out the amending budget. The final touch to the power struggle between the Council and the Parliament lies in the fact that MEPs refuse to begin talks on MFF until the matter of the 2013 correcting budget covering losses during the financial year 2012 has been settled. Avid for guarantees, MEPs also call on the Council to pledge to pay all that is due in 2013 before the end of the year. They want to avoid at all cost a shift of payments from 2013 to the next MFF, and therefore hope to begin on the best possible base.
There is not a shadow of a doubt that this resolution will be adopted without a stir by the European Parliament during its plenary session on Wednesday 13 March. The large parliamentary groups have in fact already come together round the table to draft the text. It is not expected that amendments will be submitted. (MD/trans.jl)