Speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, 30 October, European Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger said that “progress” should be made by the end of the year on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, but that agreement is more likely to be reached “in February or March 2020” (see EUROPE 12352/1).
Asked by the press about the prospect of reaching an agreement on the next MFF at EU leaders' level in December 2019, Commissioner Oettinger noted that, unlike in June, the latest European Council conclusions do not mention the possibility of a compromise on this highly sensitive issue in December. “As President Donald Tusk will not allow an agreement, it is understandable and makes sense that agreement will be reached in February or March”, said Oettinger.
At its meeting on 17 and 18 October, the European Council invited the Council Presidency to present a 'negotiating box', to include figures, before the European Council meeting in December 2019.
Increase in contributions. Mr Oettinger confirmed that, due to Brexit and the EU’s new priorities, “it will be impossible to avoid an increase in EU countries' contributions” to the EU budget over the period 2021-2027. Mr Oettinger reiterated that he was continuing to argue for his proposal to plan for a total of 1.114% of the EU Twenty-Seven's Gross National Income (GNI) for 2021-2027.
Mr Oettinger also denied the “inaccurate figures” published in the press regarding estimates of the German contribution to the EU budget (see EUROPE 12358/3). On 29 October, his agencies confirmed the correct figures with the German Ministry of Finance, reporting a contribution from Germany of €13.5 billion in 2018, €14.4 billion in 2020, €18.1 billion in 2021 and €23.5 billion in 2027. So, in Mr Oettinger’s opinion, “the figure of 33 billion is wrong; such appalling numbers should not be published”.
1% not Germany’s final word. Commissioner Oettinger once again criticised the position taken by the countries (Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, and Austria) that want to cap the EU budget for the period 2021-2027 at 1% of EU GNI and said that Germany is “ready to contribute at a higher level, so 1.0% will not be Germany’s final word on the matter”.
In closing, he justified the need to phase out rebates on the EU budget and said that the restrictive approach based on 'net balances' was “no longer appropriate in this day and age”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)