Need to transfer small EU countries' uncommitted funds
5.6.2018
Question for written answer E-003048-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Lefteris Christoforou (PPE)
In accordance with EU practice to date, when a small EU country is not able to use funds that have been allocated from the budget, these are returned to the EU funds. It is clear that these funds are particularly important for the economy and society of each country, and that their loss represents a real cost to citizens. Small countries are particularly severely affected by a failure to make full use of funds as, demonstrably, they do not have the means or mechanisms that large countries have to make full use of European funds and allocations from the European budget, although every bit of support from Europe is absolutely required by them. I believe that the EU could transfer the uncommitted funds of small countries, such as Cyprus, Malta, Estonia, etc., to the next follow-on budget, so that they are not lost.
The cost to the EU of implementing this measure, for the small countries only, will be extremely low, but the benefit for the small countries and their citizens will be huge.
Will the Commission say:
- 1.What does the Commission intend to do to put right this injustice borne by small countries?
- 2.How does it intend to further support the small countries of the EU, which do not have the adequate mechanisms to fully absorb European funds?