Main menu (press 'Enter')
Access to page content (press 'Enter')
Direct access to list of other websites (press 'Enter')

The battle for the EU's long-term budget

Budget − 19-03-2013 - 16:56 Update
 
 
euro coins ©Getty Image   The long-term budget determines what the EU will be able to do up until 2020 ©Getty Image

EU countries ignored Parliament's call for a growth-boosting long-term budget for 2014-2020 when they agreed on 8 February 2013 to cut the budget from its previous level for the first time in the EU's history. MEPs rejected that agreement in its current form on 13 March and called for the so-called multiannual financial framework (MFF) to be more flexible and open to revision. They also insisted on a real system of own resources for the EU.


EP president Martin Schulz said following the vote: "Parliament cannot accept the proposal from the member states without the fulfilment of certain essential conditions.  There must be maximum overall flexibility and an ambitious agreement on own resources." 


Before Parliament will even start negotiations with member states, MEPs want the assurance that deficits for 2012 and 2013 are covered so that the new budget cycle starts without any funding gaps.


Our feature gives an overview of developments since talks on the long-term budget began back in 2011. Check back regularly to keep up to date with the latest developments on the 2014–2020 budget.

Also in this focus

euro coins ©Getty Image   Start   EP rejects the European Council's conclusions on the EU budget for 2014-2020 "in it's current form" and calls for negotiation.   Long-term EU budget negotiations: EP sets out its stance   Martin Schulz during the press conference of March European Summit   President Schulz at the Spring Summit: "You will need to engage in serious negotiations"     EU budget: Parliament warns European Council agreement is only start of the process   (L-R) Commissioner President José Manuel Barroso, political leaders Joseph Daul, Hannes Swoboda, Guy Verhofstadt, Rebecca Harms, Martin Callanan,Nigel Farage, Gabriele Zimmer and Council Member/Irish minister of state for European affair Lucinda Creighton   Budget 2014-2020: Don't sacrifice EU's future to the current crisis, say MEPs   José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, and Herman Van Rompuy , president of the Eurepean Council   MEPs criticise member states' excessive focus on cuts in budget talks   EP president Martin Schulz during the press conference of the EU Summit   President Schulz warns leaders over irresponsible cuts to EU budget   Council and Commission members discuss the EU's long-term budget   EU must have strong and flexible EU budget for 2014-2020, say political groups   Euro coins forming the Euro symbol   MEPs demand robust and flexible budget and reformed revenue system for the EU   Three fifty euro notes   MEPs push for new income system for EU budget for 2014-2020   EP president Martin Schulz and Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt   Martin Schulz: "EU needs reasonable budget to boost Europe's growth at a time of austerity"   Conference on long-term budget   Time for radical reform on EU revenues - Lamassoure   Barroso during the MFF debate   MEPs mixed on proposals for long-term EU budget   Salvador Garriga Polledo   2014-2020 budget freeze not possible unless agreed policies are slashed   A chip for an electron microscope   EU budget for 2014-2020 should rise at least 5%: SURE Committee   ITW Jutta Haug   Jutta Haug: Defining an EP-position on the long term budget   Budget vote 13-12-1979   History of own-resources system  
REF. : 20110429FCS18370