2017 EU Budget focuses on growth, jobs and migration
EU Budget
(BRUSSELS) - The EU Budget for 2017 continued its progress through the EU institutions Monday, as the Council focused on measures to address the migration crisis and its root causes, and actions to boost Europe's economy and create jobs.
At a time of limited financial resources, the Council's position "reflects a balanced approach that makes the most effective use of the EU budget under the current circumstances and constraints", said Vazil Hudak, the the Slovak EU Presidency's chief negotiator on the EU budget.
Financial resources are targeted on current EU priorities, allowing some financial leeway for unforeseen needs.
The Council has accepted the Commission's figures for tackling the migration crisis, with security and citizenship benefiting from an increase of 4.9% in commitments and 24.4% in payments compared to 2016.
The Council also approved Commission figures on migration-related measures, such as the fight against the root causes of migration, as well as figures for humanitarian aid.
The Council approved an increase in the resources for economic growth and creating jobs by almost 9% in both commitments and payments compared to 2016. This area covers instruments such as the European fund for strategic investments, the EU programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and Erasmus +.
However, a number of areas had their proposed increases reduced where the Council decided the Commission had over-estimated actual needs.
Programmes which are performing well or starting to deliver are generally protected.
Administrative expenditure received special scrutiny, with the Council calling on the other EU institutions to make every effort to reduce their staff by 5% by 2017 as agreed in 2013.
The 2017 Budget now goes to the European Parliament for its own scrutiny. If it adopts amendments to the Council's position by 27 October, a three-week conciliation period gets under way a day later.
The aim of this conciliation process is to reach a joint position of both institutions on the budget. This should happen by 17 November 2016 at the latest.
Further information
Council agrees on its position on the 2017 EU budget (Press release)