Brussels, 25/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Tuesday 25 February, the presidents of the three European institutions - Martin Schulz for the European Parliament, José Manuel Barroso for the European Commission and Antonis Samaras for the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union - launched the start of work for the high-level group on own resources. The group is chaired by a former prime minister of Italy, Mario Monti, and will present the result of its deliberations at the end of 2014.
Samaras stated that the group's proposals will be assessed in 2016 as part of the mid-term review of the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework. He added that the EU's policies must be financed more coherently and efficiently. In Monti's view, the idea is not to create new taxes but to provide for new concepts for EU financing. The point of view of national members of parliament must be taken into account, he said. A list of three or four people (including Pierre de Boissieu) who will represent the Council does exist - but it is currently a well-kept secret. The European Parliament representatives are Alain Lamassoure (EPP, France), Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, Belgium) and Ivailo Kalfin (S&D, Bulgaria). Those from the European Commission are Commissioners Maros Sefcovic (Administration), Janusz Lewandowski (Budget) and Algirdas Semeta (Taxation). (LC/transl.fl)