RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2007-2013

28.6.2011 - (16973/3/2010 – C7‑0024/2011 – 2010/0048(APP)) - ***

Committee on Budgets
Rapporteur: Reimer Böge

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the draft Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2007-2013

(16973/3/2010 – C7‑0024/2011 – 2010/0048(APP))

(Special legislative procedure – consent)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the draft Council regulation (16973/3/2010),

- having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management[1],

- having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 312 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C7-0024/2011),

- having regard to the questions for oral answer on behalf of its Committee on Budgets to the Council (O-0074/2010 - B7-0310/2010) and to the Commission (O-0075/2010 - B7-0311/2010) of 20 May 2010 and the debate in plenary on 15 June 2010,

- having regard to its resolution of 22 September 2010 on the proposal for a Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2007-2013[2],

- having regard to Rules 75 and 81(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Budgets (A7-0253/2011),

A.  whereas the existing legal instrument laying down the multiannual financial framework needs to be amended following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon ,

B.  whereas all three institutions have addressed this requirement:

§ the Commission has brought forward the so-called "Lisbon Package" involving a proposal for a Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2007-2013, a draft Interinstitutional Agreement on cooperation in budgetary matters and a proposal to amend the Financial Regulation,

§ the Council has established the draft Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2007-2013,

§ the European Parliament has asked oral questions, adopted a resolution, and attempted to discuss the "Lisbon Package" with the other institutions in trilogues during the 2011 budgetary procedure,

C.  whereas the European Parliament considers that the current Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline and sound financial management continues to remain in force until the new regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework enters into force, with the exception of the articles which have become obsolete following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon;

D.  whereas, despite the efforts of the Belgian and Hungarian presidencies-in -office, the Council has not demonstrated any willingness to enter into negotiations on the Lisbon package, as provided for in Article 312(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

E.  whereas the reduction in the degree of flexibility in the multiannual financial framework proposed by the Council would curtail the European Parliament's powers and prerogatives in relation to those which it currently enjoys,

F.  whereas the Lisbon Treaty was not intended to bring about a reduction in the prerogatives of the European Parliament, and the European Parliament is not prepared to accept such a reduction,

1.  Declines to consent to the draft Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2007-2013;

2.  Instructs its President to declare the legislative procedure closed and to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

• [1]               OJ C 139, 17.6.2006, p. 1.
• [2]               Texts Adopted, P7_TA(2010)0328.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

TFEU article 312 specifies that the MFF regulation shall be adopted by Council after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament. TFEU 312(5) requires the three institutions to work together to find a solution "throughout the procedure leading to the adoption of the financial framework" i.e. the consent procedure regarding the MFF regulation is based on the assumption of prior negotiation.

The European Parliament set out its views on the Commission proposal clearly in oral questions of 20.5.2010 and in its resolution of 22.9.2010. The Council adopted its proposal on 21.12.2010 and asked the European Parliament for consent to its proposal on 18.1.2011 without entering into any negotiations with the European Parliament with a view to agreeing a common position.

In its letter of 18.1.2011, Council points out that its proposal includes the introduction of a certain degree of flexibility, in line with the European Parliament's wishes. This offer is not sufficient. Whereas, in the light of increased needs and reduced margins, and increasing recourse to the flexibility instruments foreseen in the IIA (adjustment and revision of the ceilings and mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, the European Union Solidarity Fund and the Emergency Aid Reserve) the European Parliament had insisted on more flexibility, Council's proposal remains significantly less flexible than the current IIA. And none of the European Parliament's other requests, as expressed in the oral questions and the European Parliament resolution and during trialogues on the 2011 budget, have been addressed.

The European Parliament cannot consent to this proposal for a draft Council regulation on the multiannual financial framework 2007-2013. After taking legal advice the European Parliament considers that the current Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management of 17.5.2006 [1] continues to remain in force in the meantime, with the exception of the articles listed in annex which have become obsolete following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, until the new regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework enters into force. And it insists on genuine negotiations, in line with TFEU article 312(5), on any future proposals.

Regarding the post 2013 multiannual financial framework, the European Parliament expects the Commission proposal, due for publication on 29 June 2011, to contain significantly more flexibility.

 

• [1]  OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p.1

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted	27.6.2011
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	25 1 0
Members present for the final vote	Alexander Alvaro, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Andrea Cozzolino, José Manuel Fernandes, Eider Gardiazábal Rubial, Salvador Garriga Polledo, Ivars Godmanis, Ingeborg Gräßle, Carl Haglund, Lucas Hartong, Jutta Haug, Monika Hohlmeier, Sidonia Elżbieta Jędrzejewska, Anne E. Jensen, Jan Kozłowski, Alain Lamassoure, Giovanni La Via, Vladimír Maňka, Barbara Matera, Claudio Morganti, Miguel Portas, Dominique Riquet, László Surján, Helga Trüpel, Angelika Werthmann
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Georgios Stavrakakis