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.
- Several Member States underlined the need for the MFF
to reflect the current economic crisis and the efforts made at
national level as regards fiscal consolidation. These
delegations called for significant reductions in the overall
expenditure level compared to the Commission's
proposals.
- Some delegations also asked for the issue of unused
commitments (RAL, "reste à liquider") to be
addressed in this context.
- Several delegations asked for all financial
instruments to be included in the multiannual financial framework,
for the sake of transparency and veracity of the EU
budget.
- Several Member States stressed the importance of
ensuring an appropriate financing of EU policies so that the
MFF can contribute adequately to addressing common challenges. Some
delegations said that they support the overall expenditure level
proposed by the Commission and a number of them considered the
Commission's proposals to be balanced.
- Several ministers identified cohesion policy or the
common agriculture policy (CAP) as their main priorities. A
number of member states considered both policies as priorities.
They highlighted the contribution that cohesion policy makes for
enhancing jobs and growth and stressed the added value the CAP
makes in the form of safe food, security of supply and rural
development.
- Another group of Member States emphasised the need for
strong support of research, innovation and the "green"
agenda. A considerable number underlined the need to direct EU
spending towards jobs and growth, in line with the EU 2020
strategy.
- Several delegations highlighted a need for
reforming the EU's own resources system.
The Danish presidency announced that the MFF would be
on the agenda of each General Affairs Council meeting until the end
of June, with the exception of February. It also expressed its
intention to
organise a conference on the MFF, probably on 22 and
23 March in Brussels.
It is expected that as from May, work on the MFF
proposals will have reached sufficient maturity for negotiations to
be conducted through a "negotiating box", a draft structure of the
conclusions of the European Council, setting out the main issues
and options and reflecting the outcome of the orientation debates
held in the General Affairs Council.
In line with a mandate of the European Council from 9
December, the intention of the Danish presidency is to produce a
solid basis for a substantial discussion on the MFF at the
European Council meeting in June 2012.
The European Council has called for the MFF to be
adopted by the end of this year. This would allow a smooth
transition to the next MFF from the one currently in
force.