Brussels, 10/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 July, the EU Economics and Financial Affairs (Ecofin) Council adopted the amending budget by qualified majority. The amending budget provides for €7.3 billion in payment appropriations for 2013. The British, Danish, Finnish, Dutch and Swedish delegations voted against the decision. The amount corresponds to the payment appropriation needs that have not yet been covered. The European Commission had calculated the amount needed for this to be €11.2 billion. The Council is committed to returning to the issue in the autumn, when the Commission will present new estimates for the amounts.
This envelope focuses on the measures to support economic growth, create jobs and tackle unemployment - particularly youth unemployment. €639 million will be for initiatives under heading 1a (competitiveness), €5.8 billion for cohesion, €395 million for the management of natural resources (including €300 million as part of rural development), €83 million for freedom, security and justice, €9.3 million for citizenship and €318 million for external action.
In the context of the political agreement on the new multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020, which was concluded on 27 June 2013 by the presidents of the European Parliament, Council and Commission, it was agreed to proceed to the formal adoption of the Council's position on the draft amending budget no 2/2013 (see EUROPE 10876). The Ecofin Council reached a political agreement on this on 14 May (see EUROPE 10845).
2012 surplus. The Council also adopted its position on the draft amending budget no 3 for 2013, which covers the unused funds in 2012 (€1.02 billion) that are returned to the member states in the form of a reduction in countries' contribution to the 2013 budget. (LC/transl.fl)