The European Parliament formally adopted the EU budget for 2021 on Friday 18 December.
Commitment appropriations amount to €164.3 billion and payment appropriations total €166.1 billion (see EUROPE 12616/2). The 2020 budget is €168.6 billion in commitments and €153.5 billion in payments.
Parliament and Council had reached a provisional agreement on 4 December, pending the release of progress towards the adoption of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. Parliament adopted the budget with 540 votes in favour, 77 against and 70 abstentions. It was subsequently signed into law by President David Sassoli.
MEPs have managed to strengthen the programmes they consider essential in relation to the Commission’s draft: Digital Europe (€25.7 million) and the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport Infrastructure (+ €60.3 million).
The LIFE programme has also been reinforced (+ €42 million) and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office will receive an additional €7.3 million.
Other programmes that received an extension : Erasmus+ (+€175.1 million), Horizon Europe (+€20 million), ‘EU for Health’ (+€74.3 million), humanitarian aid (+€25 million) and support for the EU’s southern neighbourhood (+ €10.2 million). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)