Brussels, 14/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - In its Annual Policy Strategy (APS) for 2009 adopted on Wednesday 13 February, the European Commission gives an overview of the general framework for human and financial resources planning for 2009. Jose Manuel Barroso's Commission is continuing its review of the EU budget in order to introduce the right conditions for preparing for the financial framework to be put forward by the next Commission.
In terms of human resources, following the phasing-in of the last batch of 250 new posts in 2009 after the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, the European Commission has committed itself to meeting all its further staffing needs up to 2013 through internal redeployment. In addition to the 250 new, enlargement-related posts in 2009, the Commission will generate a further 600 posts through redeployment, giving a total of 850 posts to be used to meet the priority needs set out in the APS such as the Lisbon strategy, implementation of the EU acquis (legislation), climate change, energy and migration. Provision will also be made for new requirements following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Central services in charge of support and coordination activities will not receive new posts, except for a limited reinforcement for translation and language services.
The Commission has set out its budget priorities for 2009 under several headings.
Competitiveness (heading 1a). An increase of €619 million (5.8%) is planned for this sub-heading (taking the total to €11.2 billion), concentrating on the Seventh Framework Programme for R&D (€631 million), the Lifelong Learning Programme (€63 million) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (€75 million). The funding of Galileo and the European Institute of Technology will be implemented through the redeployment under sub-heading 1a of €200 million (2009-2013). Two new agencies will be set up - the European Electronic Communications Market Authority and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. The Commission proposes to continue its preparatory action for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) operational services. The margin under the expenditure ceiling for 2009 will amount to €65 million.
Cohesion (heading 1b). The financial resources allocated to cohesion for growth and employment will increase by €1.538 billion, 3.3%, on 2008.
Natural Resources (heading 2). The phasing-in of direct aid for farming will continue for the 10 member states that joined the EU in 2004, with an increase from 50% to 60% of the final level. For the member states that joined in 2007 (Romania and Bulgaria), the increase will be from 30% to 35%. The resources allocated to LIFE+ will increase by 5.6% in 2009. For maritime policy, the Commission proposes to continue its preparatory action (€6 million) through redeployment of available resources within fisheries policy.
Freedom, Security and Justice (heading 3a). An overall expenditure increase of around €100 million (16%) is foreseen in 2009. External borders, visa policy and free movement of people (18%) and common immigration and asylum policies (18%) will receive additional funding.
Citizenship (heading 3b). Around €630 million is earmarked for heading 3b, an increase of 5.3% on 2008 (public health, consumer protection, civil protection, cultural programmes and communication).
The EU as a Global Partner (heading 4). The 'external projection of internal policies,' the Middle East peace process and the implementation of the future status settlement of Kosovo will remain high political priorities for the EU in 2009. The Commission will continue to implement the 'EU Action Strategy' for state-building for peace in the Middle East and will follow up on the implementation of the Palestinian Authority's three-year budgetary and development plan. 'Support for the settlement of the status of Kosovo and helping Kosovo to meet its future Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) obligations will require additional financial resources.' At present Palestine has been allocated €1.537 billion for 2007-2013 and Kosovo €535 million for 2007-2011. A number of other EU foreign relations initiatives will require either new profiling or additional resources, including the new EU strategy on Central Asia adopted by the European Council in June 2007 and the Thematic Programme for Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources including Energy (ENRTP). The margin available under the ceiling of heading 4 is around €120 million. This will be needed to help cover the needs of Palestine and Kosovo during 2009. (L.C.)