Brussels, 19/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 June, the three EU institutions tried as hard as they could to reach agreement on the European Union's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020, which amounts to €960 billion. The three-way meeting on Tuesday began at 6.00pm and went on until after midnight. The negotiators returned to the table on Wednesday at 11.00am, and talks were still ongoing as EUROPE went to press, but a European source said that agreement was within reach.
The Irish Presidency of the Council of Ministers aims for agreement to be reached on 19 June, so that it can be endorsed in Luxembourg on Tuesday 25 June by the General Affairs Council.
The discussions between the European Parliament (EP) and Council of Ministers focussed particularly on budget flexibility. The EP grudgingly agreed to go along with the actual sums decided for the 2014-2020 budget by the European summit in February, but in return wants concessions from ministers.
Flexibility. The EP wants all unused payment and commitment appropriations under the MFF to be made available for spending, but the ministers will only agree to this for payment appropriations for no more than €4 billion a year. The exact size of this annual cap is now being discussed.
Review clause. The EP wants a mid-term review of spending and income so that the new EP and new Commission (2014-2019) do not have to work with an MFF that they didn't have a chance to influence, explain the MEPs.
Own resources. What is being discussed here is the drafting of a roadmap on work to be carried out over the next few years. The three institutions will discuss new own resources and the Commission may publish proposals in this connection, but only for the post-2020 financial framework.
EU budget for 2013. Finally, the EP wants the ministers to agree to release cash to cover the spending gap for 2013 (€11.2 billion). An initial instalment of €7.3 billion has been agreed, but the EP wants guarantees of payment of the remaining sum. (LC/transl.fl)