Budget of the European Union

Highlights - CONT Public Hearing - Committee on Budgetary Control

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 8, 2021

On 15 June 2021, the CONT Committee will organise a public hearing on the topic "Will simplifications suggested for the new period bring the necessary balance between more efficient, effective and correct spending of EU funds?".

Key Points: 
  • On 15 June 2021, the CONT Committee will organise a public hearing on the topic "Will simplifications suggested for the new period bring the necessary balance between more efficient, effective and correct spending of EU funds?".
  • Among the Commissions aims for the MFF 2021-2027 are to simplify the structure of the EU budget and to increase flexibility within programs.
  • Simplification can reduce the risk of errors, help avoid delays and lead to a higher absorption of funds.
  • The CONT Committee intends to examine the relationship between risk, errors, and simplification; and how best to ensure that the essential checks and balances continue to take place.

Press release - Brexit: €5 billion to help EU countries mitigate social and economic impact

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 25, 2021

The 5 billion euro fund (in 2018 prices - 5.4 billion in current prices) will be set up as a special instrument outside of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) budget ceilings.

Key Points: 
  • The 5 billion euro fund (in 2018 prices - 5.4 billion in current prices) will be set up as a special instrument outside of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) budget ceilings.
  • MEPs also demanded that financial and banking entities benefitting from the UKs withdrawal from the EU be excluded from receiving support from BAR.
  • We must ensure that EU aid reaches the countries, regions, companies and people most affected by Brexit.
  • Background

    On 25 December 2020, the Commission presented its proposal for the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, a financial tool to help EU countries to counter the adverse economic and social consequences of UK withdrawal.

Civil protection: Council presidency and European Parliament reach provisional agreement

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 9, 2021

The Council presidency and European Parliament representatives today reached a provisional agreement on a proposal to strengthen the EU civil protection mechanism.

Key Points: 
  • The Council presidency and European Parliament representatives today reached a provisional agreement on a proposal to strengthen the EU civil protection mechanism.
  • The text also sets out the funding of the civil protection mechanism in the context of the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027.
  • The Commission, in cooperation with member states, will define and develop EU disaster resilience goals in the area of civil protection.
  • The EU civil protection mechanism includes a European civil protection pool.

Athabasca Minerals Acquires 100% Interest in Montney and Duvernay In-Basin Sand Deposits and Provides Corporate Update

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 5, 2021

Effective

Key Points: 
  • Effective
    January 1, 2021, AMI implemented 10% reductions of Management salaries and Board fees, and continues to participate in the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program.
  • With imported American sand still dominating the supply chain, our goal is to bring a more competitively-priced, high-quality, 'Buy Canadian' alternative.
  • Furthermore, our full ownership and control of the associated sand deposits helps simplify business terms with our international partner.
  • Privco1 & Privco2 are private Alberta corporations that hold premium domestic sand deposits, strategically located in relation to the Montney and Duvernay sedimentary basins.

Press release - Vaccine strategy: Budget MEPs quiz EU health chief Sandra Gallina

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Contracts had to be negotiated rapidly, she said, with liability and indemnification being of paramount importance.

Key Points: 
  • Contracts had to be negotiated rapidly, she said, with liability and indemnification being of paramount importance.
  • The EU has gone beyond the 12-million-vaccinations mark, she underlined, saying that there is no need to envy the US or Israel.
  • The deals with the pharmaceutical companies are of overriding public interest and should therefore be disclosed, they said.
  • Some members demanded that 1.5 billion Euros of unused funds from the research programme and the EU budget margins be used to improve the vaccination rollout in the EU.

Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument: Coreper endorses provisional agreement with the European Parliament

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 19, 2020

EU member states' ambassadors today endorsed the provisional agreement reached on 15 December between the Council Presidency and European Parliament's representatives on a regulation setting up the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), in the context of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF).

Key Points: 
  • EU member states' ambassadors today endorsed the provisional agreement reached on 15 December between the Council Presidency and European Parliament's representatives on a regulation setting up the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), in the context of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF).
  • With the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) the EU is showing its capacity to act in the world.
  • I also welcome the fact that, with the NDICI, the EU is putting an emphasis on climate action.
  • The new instrument will streamline and simplify EU external action financing instruments for international and development cooperation, crisis response or peace-building actions in partner countries.
  • It will do so by merging ten existing external financing instruments - as well as the European Development Fund - into one single financing tool.
  • It will promote multilateralism, strategic priorities and the achievement of key international commitments and objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
  • In addition, European Neighbourhood countries will benefit from enhanced political cooperationand support for the purposes of enhancing regional cooperation and promoting integration into the EUs internal market.
  • Actions financed under this component aim at strengthening resilience of crisis affected countries, linking humanitarian and development actions and addressing foreign policy needs and priorities.

Background and next steps

    • The Parliament adopted its first-reading position on 27 March 2019 and the Council adopted a partial mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on 13 June 2019.
    • On 27 May 2020, the Commission published a revised MFF proposal and at the Special Meeting of the European Council (17-21 July 2020), and member states decided on the sum to allocate for the total budget of the NDICI.
    • Following today's endorsement by Coreper, the European Parliament and the Council will translate the agreement into legislative text before final steps will be taken for its adoption.

Press release - EU Budget 2021 approved: supporting the recovery

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 19, 2020

After Council formally approved the agreement with Parliament on Monday, Parliament approved the budget on Friday by 540 votes to 77, with 70 abstentions.

Key Points: 
  • After Council formally approved the agreement with Parliament on Monday, Parliament approved the budget on Friday by 540 votes to 77, with 70 abstentions.
  • MFF top-ups: supporting the young, EU research and healthcare

    Other reinforcements for 2021 reflect the top-ups to selected key EU programmes that Parliament obtained in the deal with Council on the next long-term EU budget (MFF) 2021-2027, approved on 16 December.

  • Similarly, the commitment appropriations for humanitarian aid have been increased by 25 million and for supporting the EUs southern neighbourhood by 10.2 million.
  • In all conscience, we know that this budget is not up to the challenge.

Multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027 adopted

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 18, 2020

Infographic - Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU Following the European Parliament's consent yesterday, the Council has adopted the regulation laying down the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027.

Key Points: 
  • Infographic - Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU Following the European Parliament's consent yesterday, the Council has adopted the regulation laying down the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027.
  • The regulation provides for a long-term budget of 1 074.3 billion for the EU27 in 2018 prices, including the integration of the European Development Fund.
  • The next long-term budget will cover seven spending areas.
  • It will provide the framework for the funding of almost 40 EU spending programmes in the next seven-year period.

Key features

    • In total, around a third of EU spending under the long-term budget will contribute to new and reinforced policy areas.
    • Funding under the new recovery instrument will help EU member states to tackle the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, thereby strengthening modernisation and resilience.
    • The EU will be spending 132.8 billion in the spending area of single market, innovation and digital and 377.8 billion on cohesion, resilience and values.
    • These amounts will increase to 143.4 billion and 1.099.7 billion, respectively, with additional funding from the Next Generation EU, including loans to member states.
    • A further 356.4 billion of funding will go to the area of natural resources and environment (373.9 billion with the contribution from the Next Generation EU).
    • Funding for the EU neighbourhood and the world will amount to 98.4 billion.

New and reinforced programmes

    • The digital strand of the Connecting Europe Facility will also get a significant boost in funding.
    • A new EU4Healthprogramme will provide a strong basis for EU action in the health field based on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Support for migration and border management has also been considerably reinforced, including to fund up to 10 000 border guards at the disposal of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency by 2027.
    • Programmes for young people, such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, will also be strengthened, with the Erasmus+ programme expected to triple the number of participants in the course of the new multiannual financial framework.

Next steps

    • Most of the sectoral EU funding programmes are expected to be adopted in early 2021 and will apply retroactively from the beginning of 2021.
    • For the implementation of the Next Generation EU recovery instrument, the EU's own resources decision will need to be approved in all member states in accordance with their constitutional requirements.

Press release - LIFE: Deal reached to invest €5.4 billion in climate and environmental projects

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 18, 2020

The total budget allocated for LIFE in the compromise on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework is EUR 5.4 billion (current prices), of which EUR 3.5 billion will go to environmental activities.

Key Points: 
  • The total budget allocated for LIFE in the compromise on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework is EUR 5.4 billion (current prices), of which EUR 3.5 billion will go to environmental activities.
  • EUR 1.9 billion will go to climate action; 61% of the total budget must be climate-related.
  • The programme will contribute to mainstreaming climate actions and to achieving the overall target of at least 30% of the EU budget expenditure supporting climate objectives.
  • Background

    The LIFE programme was launched in 1992 and is the only EU programme dedicated specifically to environmental and climate action.

Press release - Parliament approves seven-year EU budget 2021-2027

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 17, 2020

Therefore, EP negotiators have devised a roadmap to introduce new Own Resources to feed into the EU budget during the next seven years.

Key Points: 
  • Therefore, EP negotiators have devised a roadmap to introduce new Own Resources to feed into the EU budget during the next seven years.
  • Parliament will keep an eye on how Next Generation EU funds are spent

    Concerning the expenditure of Next Generation EU funds, Parliament secured regular meetings between the three institutions to assess the implementation of funds made available on the legal basis of Art.

  • The recovery instrument (Next Generation EU) is based on an EU treaty article (Art.
  • EP negotiators have therefore insisted and obtained a new procedure, setting up a constructive dialogue between Parliament and Council.