Brussels, 10/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 12 September, the European Commission is set to adopt a document kicking off the public consultation process on the mid-term review of the EU budget. The in-depth and overall reassessment, called for by the European Council in December 2005, is to prepare the funding of the EU budget post-2013, from the start of the next financial framework period which begins in 2014. This will contain reform of the way the budget is funded (revenue/own resources) and Community spending, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the United Kingdom rebate.
The consultation paper, to encourage reflection by setting out the problems, will be followed, at the end of 2008 or at the start of 2009, by a White Paper which will serve as a basis for proposals on the new financial framework. Reimer Böge (EPP-ED, Germany) European Parliament rapporteur on this issue, says in a working document that the review should follow three main themes: - resolution of the problems which could not be satisfactorily settled during negotiation of the current multi-annual financial framework (2007-2013); - the mid-term evaluation of the new programmes (as provided for in the legislation); - and the drawing up of a new multi-annual financial framework for the period after 2013. In addition, Mr Böge said that account had to be taken of certain events which, in 2008 and 2009, could have an effect on budget reassessment: the adoption and implementation of the new treaty, the CAP “health check”, the report on the cohesion policy, the energy package, the review of the financial regulation, the European elections and the appointment of the new Commission and the WTO. (lc)