Briefing 
 

EU Budget for 2018 must generate growth, jobs and ensure citizens’ security 

In order to achieve sustainable growth and job creation in the EU, investments in research, innovation, infrastructure, education and SMEs are key, say MEPs in a draft resolution to be put to the vote on Wednesday.

This will constitute Parliament's first reaction to the EU draft budget for 2018, as presented by the Commission on 30 May.


In the draft text, MEPs


  • welcome the proposed increase in the budget of Horizon 2020 (research), the Connecting Europe Facility (infrastructure) and Erasmus+ (education);
  • regret however that the importance and urgency of the migration and refugee crisis “is not in line with the significant decreases” for the dedicated funds and programmes;
  • take positive note of the EU initiatives in the field of defence research, which will ““contribute to achieving economies of scale in the sector”, but “should be financed by additional funds and not be detrimental to existing programmes.”



The consolidated draft report tabled for the plenary vote will be available here. The EP rapporteur for the 2018 EU budget Siegfried Mureşan (EPP, RO) has already expressed an initial reaction to the Commission’s proposal on 30 May.


Next steps


After Parliament as a whole has set out its position on the 2018 Budget at its July session, Council presents its informal position and on 13 July the first three-way (trilogue) talks among the two arms of the budgetary authority (Parliament and Council) and the European Commission take place. Talks resume in September to reach an agreement before the end of the year.



Procedure:  Budgetary

2017/2043(BUD)

Debate:  Tuesday, 4 July

Vote:  Wednesday, 5 July


#EUBudget #EUBudget20018