On July 15, EU member states reached agreement at the technical level on the Council’s position on the draft EU budget for 2014, the first annual budget under the new multi-annual financial framework, Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The agreement was supported by a large majority of member states and goes to the EU ambassadors on July 18 for political approval.
The Council’s position amounts to EUR 141.8 billion in commitments and EUR 134.8 billion in payments.
According to the statement, particular emphasis was put to ensure that sufficient margins are left to deal with unforeseen circumstances whilst allowing the financing of the EU priorities, notably in the fields of youth employment, research, SMEs etc.
Compared to the amounts proposed by the Commission, the Council cut payments by a total of EUR 1.06 billion and commitments by EUR 0.24 billion.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council made a special effort to limit the rise in EU administrative spending to 0.28 per cent in commitments and 0.30 percent in payments, compared to 2013.
The Council’s position, which is due to be formally adopted by a written procedure by September 2, will serve as a mandate to the Lithuanian presidency to negotiate the next year’s EU budget with the European Parliament later this year. The Parliament is expected to adopt its position in late October.
