Brussels, 22/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament will, on Thursday 24 October, reinstate the credits proposed by the European Commission for the 2014 EU budget. It will even go beyond what was proposed in certain areas, making moderate use of the flexibility instrument where there are no margins available below the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework caps.
Anne Jensen (ALDE, Denmark) rapporteur on the general EU budget for 2014, has spoken of an economy budget, down 6% on the 2013 budget (see EUROPE 10935 on the Parliament budgets committee vote). Voting on the EU multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 could take place in November (see other article in the Institutional section), Jensen pointed out, even though there remain a number of outstanding issues (€3.9 billion payment appropriations having to be found, working group on own resources). Jensen hopes that the Parliament position on the draft 2014 budget will be adopted by a wide majority. She said she was aware that the Socialists want higher payment appropriations. No solutions had been found, however.
On behalf of the Council, Lithuanian Budget Minister Algimantas Rimkunas said that the level of credit appropriations had to be sufficient but “must not be overestimated”. The Council regrets the significant increase in credits that Parliament is preparing to endorse, especially when it goes above the Commission's initial proposal. He believes the MFF ceilings must be respected and expressed concern that Parliament was reducing the margins available under the MFF ceilings and not leaving any room for manoeuvre in the event of any unforeseen situations in 2014.
Commission says to go up as far as ceilings.
Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski welcomed the Parliament position on the draft 2014 budget which seeks to reinstate the sums proposed by the Commission. A build-up of problems has been noted resulting from under-budgeting over several years, the commissioner said. He suggested going right up to the MFF ceilings and noted the willingness of Parliament to go higher, by means of the flexibility instrument. The Commission criticised the 4% increase envisaged by the Parliament for decentralised agencies.
On behalf of the EPP Group, Dominique Riquet (France) stressed that the situation in 2014 is made all the more complex as more than half the budget will be used to pay for old programmes and there will be budget deadlock on payments of more than €20 billion in 2014. Euroscepticism, he said, is supposed to be growing in Europe, but the most Eurosceptic today were sitting, he feared, in the Council
Eider Gardiazabal Rubial (S&D, Spain) said his group had put down almost 300 amendments with very clear objectives: using budget lines to their maximum in priority areas (development, tackling domestic violence, help for the worst off, etc.). The Social Democrats called for €200 million more for decentralised cooperation, poverty reduction, humanitarian aid and aid for refugees. It slammed the Council position on the 2013 budget.
George Lyon (ALDE, UK) said that there were liquidity problems, that there would be a €200 million carryover into the 2014 budget - a remark also made by the previous speaker. He called for an agreement to be reached with the Council on the MFF and the draft amending budget No 8 for 2013 (€3.9 billion in additional payment appropriations).
Richard Ashworth (ECR, UK) said that the Council had been right to propose a reduced budget for Parliament (Ed: though the Council does not comment on the Parliament budget). He supported both the Council stance (not to exceed the financial framework ceilings and using the flexibility instrument for unforeseen circumstances) and a number of Parliament amendments (youth employment, growth, research Frontex).
Jurgen Klute (GUE/NGL, Germany) was dismissive of Commission and Council efforts to tackle youth unemployment. He regretted the 6% reduction in the 2014 budget and the use of 50% of the EU budget to shore up the legacy of the current MFF, that is, to pay past invoices. Only half of the sums allocated will be available for new programmes, he repeated. (LC/transl.fl)