The EU Council approved without debate, on Monday 25 November, by qualified majority, the compromise on the EU 2020 budget reached last week with representatives of the European Parliament (see EUROPE 12372/1). The total level of commitment appropriations is €168.7 billion (+1.5% compared to the 2019 budget) and the level of payment appropriations is €153.6 billion (+3.4%).
Six EU countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Bulgaria) voted against this ‘joint project’ on next year’s budget, while Hungary abstained.
In a ‘unilateral’ declaration, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden regret that the agreement “is not based on a more cautious approach to EU expenditure”. According to these countries, the “record” overall level of spending is “well above” what is necessary, given the uncertainties in 2020. And these countries hammered that it is “of great importance to preserve sufficient margins in 2020 for unforeseen needs”. The 2020 budget agreement leaves little or no margin under several headings and requires a wide use of special flexibilities to circumvent the annual ceilings, which is contrary to Point 8 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013, conclude these countries.
However, €1.5 billion has been kept below the expenditure ceilings of the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework, which will allow the EU to respond to unpredictable needs.
The European Parliament is expected to endorse the compromise on the 2020 budget on Wednesday 27 November in Strasbourg. Once Parliament has approved this ‘joint project’, the 2020 budget will be formally adopted.
To consult documents and tables on the EU 2020 budget: http://bit.ly/2DgXM9r (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)