Brussels, 04/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Latvian Presidency of the Council is hoping for an agreement within two weeks on the proposal to transfer €21 billion of commitment appropriations from the budget of the EU not used in 2014 to 2015-2017 (see EUROPE 11245).
On 20 January, the Commission adopted a proposal stipulating that money not used in 2014 would be transferred to subsequent years by means of a revision of the upper limits of commitments of the various headings of the multi-annual financial framework (MAFF) 2014-2020. A draft amending budget (no. 2/2015) asks for the necessary level of credit appropriations regarding the 2015 budget (€16.5 billion, including €11.1 billion under the cohesion policy).
The proposal was discussed on Wednesday 4 January at Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives of the member states to the EU), and will be on the agenda of the committee on budgets of the European Parliament on Thursday 5 February.
Most of the delegations supported the Commission's proposals. However, certain countries, Italy and Spain in particular, called for the transfer of the money to be spread over a longer period (most of the funds will be transferred from 2014 to 2015, and very little to 2016 and 2017). These countries are concerned that they will not be able to absorb the funds in such a short period of time. There is also a risk of disengagement as a result and a management problem, as many programmes are at stake (structural funds in particular). (LC)