The Council takes the view that the 2018 budget should seek to boost growth and tackle the migration and security crises, while maintaining budgetary discipline at all levels. This is what it recommends in the budgetary orientations for 2018 to be adopted by the ECOFIN Council on Tuesday 21 February (see EUROPE 11722).
The Council reiterates the need for a realistic budget respecting the principles of sound financial management and annuality. It also reaffirms the need to leave sufficient...