EU budget negotiation failure, "but progress has been made"

President Traian Basescu said in Brussels that the latest proposal advanced by President of the European Council, regarding the EU budget for the next seven years will remain the base document for future negotiations, pointing out that what was decided there will be no change, notify the editor of RRA, Sorin Moţatu.

At the end of the European Council summit, the President said that although the meeting did not reach an agreement, progress have definitely been made.

Basescu stated that within the draft budget presented by the President of the European Council, there is no coupling allocations absorption rate and that the document was captured and VAT eligible.
The President said that the within the negotiations in Brussels has been managed the co-managing of the restoration project to 85 percent from 75 percent and that it was accepted as pre 4 percent.

The President explained that for the financial year 2014 – 2020, Romanian farmers will have a gradual increase in direct payments for at least five billion euros.

"The last proposal advanced by European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy, the EU budget for the period 2014 - 2020 remains the basis document for future negotiations, pointing out that what was decided there will be no change," said the president.

Basescu said that the European Council reached an agreement on reducing the EU budget by 100 billion euros to the European Commission's proposal.

"Budget reduction requests from the Member net contributor ranged from 50 billion to 200 billion. Reduction will be 100 billion to the proposal from the Commission," the president said.

A possible agreement on the budget at the beginning of 2013

European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, said at the end of the negotiations that it was for the first time in EU history when discussing the actual cutting.

He added that "we must ensure that future budget will continue reforms in the European Union".

European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy, said on Friday that it will be possible to reach an agreement on the EU budget in early 2013, trying to minimize the consequences of the failure of the summit held in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, informs AFP.

"It is possible an agreement in early 2013," said Herman Van Rompuy at a press conference, talking about a "sufficient level of convergence" between leaders of the 27 EU Member States.

Summit European Council dedicated to EU multiannual budget ended Friday afternoon without reaching an agreement.


Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University