The Committee on Budgets adopted the recommendation drafted by Reimer BÖGE (EPP, DE) on the draft Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2007-2013 in which it calls on the European Parliament to decline to consent to the draft Council regulation.
Members recall that the existing legal instrument laying down the multiannual financial framework needs to be amended following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. To this effect, the three institutions have taken a series of measures:
However, Members consider that despite the efforts of the Belgian and Hungarian presidencies-in -office, the Council has not demonstrated any willingness to enter into negotiations on the Lisbon package, as provided for in Article 312(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.Areduction in the degree of flexibility in the multiannual financial frameworkproposed by the Council would curtail the European Parliament's powers and prerogativesin relation to those which it currently enjoys. Members state that the Lisbon Treaty was not intended to bring about a reduction in the prerogatives of the European Parliament, and the European Parliament is not prepared to accept such a reduction.
Consequently, Members of the parliamentary committee have rejected the draft Regulation and considers that the current Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline and sound financial management continues to remain in force until the new regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework enters into force, with the exception of the articles which have become obsolete following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.