The European Parliament has asked for additional 1.3. billion EUR for the next year’s budget. The budget proposed by member countries is worth 134.8 billion EUR, although Parliament asked 1.06 billion EUR more. Yesterday MEPs voted in favor of raising the 2014 budget to 136.1 billion, with 480 votes in favor to 119 against and 86 abstentions. MEPs’ demand for extra cash comes in times when national governments announce spending cuts and austerity – a bitter reminder of the struggle between Brussels and 28 EU member countries.
Even though the vote is not binding, the proposal triggered another round of negotiations between national states, Commission and legislature. According to Danish MEP, Anne Jensen, the EU is obliged to live up to its promises and policies, which is also why about 300 million EUR was put aside as development assistance for the Middle East and refugees. Most notably, planned cuts on humanitarian aid for Syria as well as the border control agency ‘Frontex’ have been rejected.
Jensen’s colleague, Alain Lamassoure, added that the current talks are not only negotiations about next year’s budget but also about a whole financial framework for the budgetary period 2014-2020. Mr. Lamassoure warned that if member states do not agree to provide the EU budget with more money, they will force the Union to operate off monthly roll-on. Needless to say that the current demand for more money came after the EU Commission had alarmed that it would not be able to pay its bills from November unless emergency funding comes.
