Brussels, 20/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 20 November, the European Parliament adopted (by 494 votes to 153, with 13 abstentions) the European Union budget for 2014 - following the compromise between the institions obtained on 12 November (see EUROPE 10961). The budget is down by 6.2% compared to the 2013 budget and represents 1% of EU gross national income in payments (€135.5 billion).
In addition, tParliament approved amending budget no 9/2013 which provides for €400.5 million of EU solidarity funding after the natural disasters (including €360.4 million for Germany). The financing modalities are €250.5 million in payment appropriations through redeployment in 2013 (identified in global transfer) and €150 million through fresh appropriations in 2014. Parliament notes that the needs linked to research, valued at €200 million in the overall transfer, will therefore be financed - which will enable several new research contracts to be signed before the end of the year.
Flexibility instrument. Parliament adopted a decision enabling mobilisation of the flexibility instrument in 2013 up to €134 million - in order to finance a large part of the €150 million in European social fund allocations for France, Italy and Spain for 2013. Parliament also adopted a decision mobilising the flexibility instrument, this time in 2014, up to €89.3 million - in order to finance the rise of €100 million in structural fund appropriations for Cyprus. (LC/transl.fl)