The Council discussed the main priorities and the budgetary framework including the overall amounts presented in the Commission's proposals for the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2014-2020 period. The debate enabled a clearer picture to be obtained of the member states' positions on the main issues and of the state of negotiations. It also provided guidance to the presidency and notably indicated the areas where it could face difficulties in finding common ground.
During this debate, several delegations highlighted a need for reforming the EU's own resources system.