On Wednesday 9 November, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU (Coreper) will discuss a new compromise text of the Slovak Presidency of the EU Council on the proposals for a mid-term revision of the EU's multiannual financial framework 2014-2020.
The aim is still to reach an agreement (unanimity at the Council is required) on the dossier by the end of 2016 and, if at all possible, at the General Affairs Council to be held in Brussels on 15 November.
The two main issues still outstanding concern the details for the financing of the extra funds for priority areas (security, migration, growth and employment) and the accounting treatment of the special instruments (EU Solidarity Fund, European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, emergency aid reserve and the flexibility instrument). The European Commission has proposed to make €6.4 billion available over the period 2018-2020 to pay for these priorities.
At this stage, the Slovak Presidency is proposing to reduce this amount to €5.8 billion, by means of credit redeployments.
On the special instruments (EU Solidarity Fund, European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, emergency aid reserve and the flexibility instrument), the positions have not budged an inch: Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries are calling for these to be dealt with above the ceilings of the MFF, whilst the so-called 'net contributor' countries want them to feature within the ceilings of the MFF.
The Council wishes to deal with the MFF dossier separately from the negotiations on the 2017 budget, whilst the European Parliament takes the view that the two dossiers comprise a single package (see EUROPE 11655). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)