Strasbourg, 21/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - European Commission President José Manuel Barroso warned his European Parliament opposite number, Martin Schulz, on Monday 21 October that the EU will no longer be able to pay its bills from 15 November if the €2.7 billion amending budget 6/2013, to make up for lower than expected customs duty revenue, is not adopted as a matter of urgency.
Opening the plenary session, Schulz informed the MEPs of this situation and suggested a change to the agenda, potentially allowing for a vote on this amending budget on Thursday 24 October. To this end, the Council of the EU adopted and sent this amending budget on Monday evening, Finland having voted against and Sweden abstaining. An emergency meeting of the budgets committee will discuss and approve it on Tuesday 22 October.
Despite the clear unhappiness of the EPP, ALDE and Greens/EFA Groups, irritated by the Council move, the plenary session is expected to decide on Wednesday morning whether or not MEPs should vote on the 2013 amending budget on Thursday. Schulz said that we will see on Wednesday whether a vote is possible. MEPs were looking to vote on this amending budget as a package with amending budget 8/2013, which amounts to €3.9 billion. (MD/transl.fl)