Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets and the European Commission insisted on Monday 3 December in Brussels on the need to find a compromise on the EU budget for 2019; otherwise, the provisional twelfths regime will apply from January 2019.
Negotiations on the 2019 budget, after the failure of the conciliation talks, will take place on Tuesday 4 December, during a budget trilogue between the three EU institutions on the basis of the new draft budget for 2019 (see EUROPE 12150). The most difficult point remains the use, proposed by the Commission, of Article 15 paragraph 3 of the new Financial Regulation to allocate decommitted amounts to research. The Council is opposed to it, while the European Parliament makes it a priority.
10 countries are reportedly against it. The European Commissioner for the Budget, Günther Oettinger, pointed out that he suggested mobilising options up to €100 million provided for by the provisions of Article 15 (3) (and not up to €400 million), a sign that he wants to “avoid the power struggle” with the Council, which is very reluctant on this subject. The Commission presented the draft budget for 2019 to the Member States on Friday and “10 countries”, including Germany and France, are opposed to the use of this article, Mr Oettinger said.
This was confirmed when EU ambassadors discussed the new draft budget for 2019 on Monday. There is indeed a blocking minority in the Council for not using Article 15 (3) of the Financial Regulation, even though the Austrian Presidency of the Council stressed that there was a willingness to reach an agreement on Tuesday.
The General Affairs Council on 11 December could take up the matter as a last resort in the event of European Parliament/Council disagreement this week on the 2019 EU budget.
Negative effects. The Budget Commissioner stressed the negative effects of the application of the provisional twelfths scheme on farmers (they would receive only 8% of direct aid in January-February), research, migration and Erasmus (400,000 grants would be delayed).
Budgets Committee Chairman Jean Arthuis (ALDE, France) added that with the provisional twelfths there will be no €1 billion for the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey.
Mr Oettinger also mentioned the tight timetable, hoping for an agreement on Tuesday/Wednesday for an European Parliament plenary vote on 12 or 13 December.
Even if they do not like provisional twelfths, members do not want to accept any agreement.
The rapporteur, Daniele Viotti (S&D, Italy), said that Parliament had already given in to the Council on certain issues. "Both arms of the budgetary authority must be respected. We do not want a standoff in which Europe will lose," he warned. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)