Brussels, 19/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - On 10 February, the European Commission will attempt to smooth the way for the unveiling of an ambitious new psot-2006 financial framework in its upcoming communication, capable of meeting the EU's three new objectives of improving competitiveness, growth potential and cohesion; creating an area of security, freedom and justice; and developing external relations
To meet these challenges, a narrow majority of Commissioners felt at the beginning of January that the EU's budget should be set at 1.24% of Gross National Income (GNI), see EUROPE of 9 January 2004, p.7), which would provide EUR 147.1 billion in 2011 according to figures quoted in an internal Commission document submitted to the Commissioners on 7 January. Compared with the sums earmarked today for the 2006 budget, this would make it possible to increase by more than 200% in 2011 spending on competitiveness, job creation and sustainable development (in other words a total of EUR 22 bn for education, research, implementing the Social Agenda, etc), and activity to establish an area of freedom and justice (EUR 2.6 bn in total). According to this option, the funds available for cohesion (regional policy) would increase by 23% in 2011 (EUR 46.9 bn). For external action, the rise would be in the order of 24%. The new heading of preserving and managing natural resources, which includes farming, fisheries and the environment, would be allocated EUR 53.8 bn in 2001, a 1% rise on the amounts foreseen for 2006.
The other scenario, supported by the German, British and Dutch Commissioners, is to slightly increase the EU's budget to 1.15% of GNI (or EUR 136.5 bn in 2011). Under the option of a ceiling of 1% GDP argued for by six net contributors (see Europe of 17 December 2003), the EU's budget stand at EUR 118.8 bn in 2011.