Brussels, 02/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 2 October, MEPs from the European Parliament's budgets committee voted in favour of a cut of nearly €10 million to the Parliament's administrative budget for 2014 compared to the European Commission's June draft budget. The outcome is a real-terms reduction in the Parliament's budget.
Average inflation (1.7% in 2014) and extra costs, due to the end of the legislature and Croatia joining the EU, would have increased the budget in real terms. However, thanks to savings made by the budgets committee (especially as regards visits by parliamentary delegations), the increase in the Parliament's spending will only be 1.9% compared to 2013.
Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, Germany), the rapporteur, hailed the result of the vote. “We have achieved a real-terms cut in Parliament's budget. This is a remarkable outcome, given that extra costs due to the departure of MEPs is already estimated at 2.1% and the additional costs of Croatia's accession amount to +0.17%”, she said. The voting on the overall EU budget for 2014 will continue in the budgets committee on Thursday 4 October (the plenary vote in the Parliament will be on 23 October). (LC/transl.fl)