Brussels, 30/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 30 November, the EU Council of Ministers adopted, without debate, the results of the second reading of the draft 2007 budget, incorporating the agreements reached with the European Parliament on the level of payment appropriations, spending on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and on efforts to be made by the institutions to monitor the recruitment process for new officials needed as a result of EU enlargements in 2004 and 2007 (see EUROPE 9317). The package also contains the adoption of two letters of amendment to the budget (reduction of €852 million for agricultural spending and the creation of a €500 million reserve for the Globalisation adjustment Fund).
The second reading by the Council of the draft 2007 budget confirmed that payment appropriations for next year will amount to €115.5 billion, or 0.99% of EU Gross National Income (GNI). This is an increase of 3% compared with the 2006 budget. In a declaration, the Council called on the European Commission to submit an amending budget if the appropriations entered in the 2007 budget are insufficient to cover spending on the cohesion policy, agricultural aid and administration.
Credits for the CFSP in 2007 will be €159.2 million in commitments (€120.4 million in payments) and the Council has sent a letter to the EP in which it undertakes to continue to provide information on funded operations, including on the prospective ESDP mission to Kosovo. Given EU commitments in Kosovo, the budget could be increased if necessary.
On administrative spending, the 800 new posts sought by the Commission as a result of the 2007 enlargement have been accepted. However, the Council and EP have, in a declaration, noted their concern at the delays in the recruitment process in relation to the 2004 enlargement. The Council and EP have called on the institutions, particularly EPSO, to speed up the selection process. The Council and EP have invited the Secretaries-General of the institutions to present a report on progress achieved (a) on filling the posts granted in 2004-06 by the end of January 2007, and (b) on filling the posts granted in 2007 by 15 June and 31 October 2007. (lc)