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| EU president suggests 2014-20 budget with 960 billion in commitments |
| Brussels, 09.02.2013 |
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| European Union President Herman Van Rompuy early Friday proposed that the bloc‘s budget for 2014-20 be cut to 960 billion euros (1.3 trillion dollars) in commitments, diplomats said, in a bid to implement austerity during the economic crisis.
Van Rompuy‘s plan, which was presented to EU leaders in Brussels 15 hours after budget talks began, also foresees a lower-than-expected 908.4 billion euros in actual payments.
Commitments include money that is paid out beyond the time-frame of the budget, for instance to fund long-running EU programmes. Payments are the amounts actually disbursed in that period.
The national leaders were in drawn-out talks over how and where to cut the bloc‘s budget, amid disagreements between advocates of austerity and those favouring more stimulus.
Diplomats said lowering the payment figure would accommodate British Prime Minister David Cameron, who had been pushing for cuts so he can present a conservative EU budget back home.
"In reality, the seven-year budget is about commitments. But for some member states politically and practically - because of internal politics - payments became important," Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said earlier.
But a lowered payments figure - previous estimates had ranged from 910 to 913 billion euros - would put EU governments on a collision course with the European Parliament, which has to consent to the expenditures.
"I cannot, will not and, indeed, may not accept what amount to deficit budgets," parliament President Martin Schulz warned late Thursday.
EU leaders were to debate Van Rompuy‘s proposal during a new round of debates from 6:30 am (0530 GMT), over details including where to cut spending to reach the 960-billion-euro figure.
At their last budget summit in November, leaders had considered a figure of 972 billion euros for 2014-20, already down from 1.05 trillion euros proposed by the European Commission.
The 27 leaders have to reach a unanimous agreement on the budget for it to stand. They have been under pressure to do so this week after failing to strike a deal at a summit in November. dpa cb amh cds Author: Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl
Brussels (dpa |
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