The European Ministers of Economy and Finance were divided on Tuesday 9 July in Brussels on proposals to create new own resources to finance the EU budget after 2020 (see EUROPE 12291/5, 12288/8). At this stage, it has therefore been decided not to include new proposals on this sensitive subject of revenue, in the negotiations on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, which requires unanimity in the EU Council.
At the press conference after the Ecofin Council, Finnish Finance Minister Mika Lintilä said that “opinions diverge” on proposals to create a ‘basket’ of new own resources to finance the post-2020 EU budget.
A working breakfast between European Finance Ministers was held on the subject of the EU's own funds. “Some ministers have shown interest in some new revenues, while others fear that introducing new own resources will delay agreement on the next MFF”, explained the Finnish minister, who holds the presidency of the Ecofin Council.
As the European Council has a “tight” timetable for negotiating the MFF, “it will be complicated to integrate reflections on new own resources at this stage”, Mika Lintilä stressed. However, the Finnish Presidency will continue the discussion on this subject, which is of crucial importance to the European Parliament.
The Commission had formulated three main options in its proposals on the 2021-2027 MFF: – a national contribution based on the volume of non-recycled plastic packaging waste; – revenue generated by the emissions trading scheme; – a share of the new common consolidated corporate tax base.
European Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger called on the EU Council to reach agreement on new own funds before the October European Council. He was open about the other ideas presented by the ministers.
But in the face of the EU Council's refusal, the Commission should not present new proposals on new own resources.
The Commission is open to new ideas. Mr Oettinger considered the case for the creation of a financial transaction tax (FTT) to be “mature” (see EUROPE 12278/17) and was open to the following ideas: – a contribution to the EU budget in relation to climate protection; – a tax on imports from countries that do not comply with environmental standards; – a digital tax.
Mr Oettinger said he would like the EU Council to examine the Commission's new proposals in September or October and to reach agreement, before the October European Council, on one or other new own resource to finance the EU budget.
The Vice-President of the Commission in charge of the Euro, Financial Stability and Financial Services, Valdis Dombrovskis, said at a press conference after the Ecofin Council that he hoped that the dossier on the EU's new own resources would “progress”.
The Finnish Presidency recalled that the next MFF is on the agenda of the October European Council, with a view to reaching agreement on this dossier “before the end of the year”.
In addition, the Dutch delegation informed the Ministers of Finance of the conclusions of the conference on 20 and 21 June on the subject of air transport taxation (see EUROPE 12283/11). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)