Brussels, 08/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - On 12 February, the Ecofin Council will adopt its fairly standard conclusions on the budgetary guidelines for 2017, while its mid-term review for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014-20 is also on the agenda.
In this text, the Council emphasises the “unprecedented and successive crises” the EU faced in 2015 in areas such as migration and security, which significantly affected the Union's budget. The Council asserts that “The budgetary year 2017, acting as a halfway marker of the current programming period 2014-2020, will likely be exposed to similar constraints and uncertainties”.
Member states reiterate that the budgetary procedure for 2017 will still take place in a context of budget constraints in several member states. “Therefore, the Council emphasises the need to improve the predictability of member states' contributions to the Union's budget”. The Council, while recalling the principle of solidarity, considers that the EU budget should seek to boost growth, promote employment and create new jobs, as well as enhancing effective EU cohesion and increasing competitiveness, while maintaining budgetary discipline at all levels. As such, the Council considers that the right balance between fiscal consolidation and investments to boost growth is needed.
Council remains firm on payment appropriations and respect for MFF. The level of payment appropriations should be adequate and reflect the payment profiles of the programmes, including the commitments made during the previous programming period 2007-2013 and with “a clear focus on the expected needs for the period 2014-2020”. The Council emphasises that the budget for 2017 and corrective budgetary tools shall strictly respect the relevant ceilings in accordance with the multiannual financial framework (MFF) regulation for the period 2014-2020. Moreover, the Council reiterates the need to leave sufficient margins under the ceilings in order to be able to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
The Council urges the Commission to implement the budget for 2017 in compliance with the ceilings set out in the annual budget, including reorientation of allocations, if necessary. The Council text highlights the fact that the use of correct budgetary instruments, such as amending budgets should be limited to a strict minimum and in respect of the financial rules. It is, however, committed to introducing necessary legislation as soon as possible for amending budgets if needs be.
Administrative spending. The Council urges all institutions, bodies and agencies to reduce or freeze their administrative expenditure as much as possible and to request financing only for justified needs. The Council recalls that 2017 is the last year to comply with the target and progressively reduce by 5% the staff in all institutions, bodies and agencies between 2013 and 2017. Last year, the EP obtained some derogations on the matter. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)