Brussels, 20/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU called for caution and realism following the latest negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission on the EU budget for 2016, following the meeting of Monday 19 October.
“We all agree that we are facing major political challenges which require us to take exceptional measures and to mobilise extraordinary financial support. But we cannot continue simply to increase the EU budget without any limits. We have to address the current situation whilst fully respecting the constraints on our finances in the light of clearly justified priorities”, Pierre Gramegna, the Luxembourg minister of finance, said in a press release.
In its position, which was adopted unanimously on 4 September (see EUROPE 11382), the Council provided for a total budget for the EU of €153.27 billion in commitments and €142.12 billion in payments for 2016. If the Parliament confirms the amendments of the budgets committee of the EP on 28 October (see EUROPE 11399), the figures retained by the Council will be increased by €4.16 billion in commitments and €4.34 billion in payments. “This would far exceed the expenditure ceilings also accepted by the Parliament and the EU's multiannual financial framework for a 2014-2020”, the Luxembourg minister points out.
The Council and the Parliament both attach a high degree of importance to measures to address the migration crisis. “But care needs to be taken to ensure that EU resources are in line with what can realistically be absorbed”, the Presidency press release states. In adopting draft amending budgets 5 and 7, the Council and the Parliament have already mobilised €490.3 million in commitments and €133.6 million in payments from the 2015 budget to help refugees. The two institutions are examining amending letter no. 2 for 2016 to make new funds available (€1.55 billion in commitments and €1.42 billion in payments from the 2016 budget).
The Council calls on the other European institutions to respect their commitments to reduce their staff numbers by 5% between 2013 and 2017. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)