The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE) and Eider GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL (S&D, ES) on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020.
The committee proposed to set the overall level of budget appropriations for 2020 (all sections) at EUR 170 971 519 973 in commitment appropriations, an increase of EUR 2 699 813 994 over the draft budget, and to set the overall level of budget appropriations for 2020 (all sections) at EUR 159 146 168 195 in payment appropriations.
Members stressed that the 2020 budget should pave the way for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and provide a solid starting point for the launch of the new generation of Union programmes and policies; recalls, moreover, that 2020 is the last year of the current MFF and, therefore, the last chance for the Union to come closer to meeting the political commitments set for that period, including towards reaching the EU climate target and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and delivering on the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Restoring appropriations
Members took note of the Council position on the draft budget, which reduced commitment appropriations by EUR 1.51 billion compared to the Commission's proposal. Considering that the Council’s cuts flatly contradict the Union’s priorities, they called for appropriations to be restored on all lines cut by the Council to the level of the DB, for both operational and administrative expenditure, and to take the DB as the starting point to build its position upon.
Enhanced climate budget
Members stressed the need to tackle climate change and protect the environment in a way that promotes employment, enhances competitiveness, promotes sustainable development and ensures social prosperity. They stressed the essential role of new and emerging technologies in achieving this objective. The 2020 budget should also prepare the Union for an even more ambitious target for climate and biodiversity mainstreaming in the 2021-2027 MFF.
Therefore, Members proposed to substantially increase by more than EUR 2 billion above the draft budget levels for budget lines across the different headings - in particular subheading 1a. of the MFF - to respond to environmental challenges and climate change.
Other additional financing
Members also recommended that:
- the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) be strengthened beyond the amount proposed by the Commission, also to ensure a smooth transition to the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) in the next MFF;
- financial resources need to be strengthened to meet future demands for Erasmus+, the key flagship programme for education and training, including vocational education and training, youth and sport in Europe;
- budget lines relating to Parliament's priorities, in areas such as SMEs, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, cancer research, security and justice cooperation, customs, migration and external policy, including humanitarian and development aid should be reinforced.
Flexibility Instrument
In order to adequately financing the pressing priorities and considering the very tight or inexistent margins under certain Headings in 2020, Members stated that the Flexibility Instrument and the Global Margin for Commitments need to be fully mobilised, the Contingency Margin needs to be mobilised, while part of it also remains available for the financing of unforeseen events that may occur in the course of next year.
They also stressed the need to fully re-use de-commitments for research as laid down in Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation.
Members then made a series of observations and recommendations for each subheading of the MFF.
European Parliament
Members proposed to restores the appropriations established in the estimates on the basis of a careful and responsible analysis of the needs of Parliament for 2020. However, they expressed concern about the Commission's cuts to Parliament's budget.
Members want to increase two lines above the draft budget, due to the higher rate of non re-election following the European elections (63%, whilst an average of 50% served as the calculation basis) and the postponement of Brexit to 31 October 2019. They also want to increase the line on European political foundations.