Brussels, 03/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 September, the Council of the EU adopted, by written procedure, its position on the 2014 EU draft budget (see EUROPE 10891). Compared to the 2013 budget, this budget will see a 6.15% cut in commitment appropriations and an increase in payment appropriations of 1.35%. Belgium, Denmark and the United Kingdom abstained.
This is the first annual budget relating to the period of the new multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2014-2020 (see EUROPE 10876). The Council's position respects the expenditure ceilings of the new MFF while keeping appropriate margins in order to meet possible unforeseen expenditure needs.
The Council's position amounts to €142.23 billion in commitments (€141.77 billion if specific instruments outside the multiannual financial framework are excluded; this would leave a margin of €769.25 million) and €135.00 billion in payments (€134.80 billion if specific instruments outside the multiannual financial framework are excluded; this would leave a margin of €1.06 billion).
Compared to the 2013 EU budget as amended by amending budget no 1/2013 (fund for Croatia), commitments decrease by €9.33 billion or 6.15% and payments increase by €1.79 billion or 1.35%.
Compared to the amounts proposed by the Commission, the Council's position provides for a reduction of €240.68 million in commitments (-€60 million for the section on “growth”, -€153 million for administrative spending and -€17 million for external action) and €1.06 billion in payments (-€426 million for growth, -€202 million for cohesion, -€112 for natural resources, -€156 million for external action and -€153 million for administrative spending).
New programmes and action, such as the youth employment initiative, have been spared budget cuts.
The Council's position will serve as a mandate to the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers to negotiate with the European Parliament, which is expected to adopt amendments to the Council's position in the week starting on 21 October. If the Council's and the Parliament's positions diverge, a three-week conciliation period will start on 24 October (until 13 November inclusive) to reach a compromise between the two institutions. (LC/transl.fl)