Theme of the day of 12 October 2006

Budget 2007

The Budget Committee of the European Parliament finished a marathon of voting on 1250 amendments to the report on the EU Budget 2007. The rapporteur-general of the report on the 2007 Budget and the Commission's Annual Policy strategy, James Elles MEP (United Kingdom), together with other EPP-ED MEPs successfully ensured that the priority of quality for money in delivering EU programmes will be adequately reflected in the budget.

The EPP-ED shadow rapporteur on the 2007 EU Budget report as regards institutions other than the Commission, Vice-Chairman of the EPP-ED Group Ville Itälä MEP (Finland) said that he was "for the most part satisfied with the result". He said that the EPP-ED group could be especially happy with the fact that the committee backed real-expense based budgets for the other EU institutions in the future. "This means that for example the agreed 20% ceiling for the Parliament need not always be artificially strived for," Itälä said.

James Elles said after the vote: "The report strongly criticises the Commission for paying insufficient attention to the rapid changes in the global economy, notably as a result of the emerging economies such as China and India. The Commission's Annual Policy Strategy reads like a routine bureaucratic document without serious political leadership or guidance".

James Elles called for the EU budget to be implemented with a view to ensuring qualitative value for money and proposed that cost-benefit studies be carried out in specific policy areas. It has already been agreed that such areas should include the CFSP and communications policy.

Furthermore, the rapporteur recommends that work should already begin on the mid-term review of the EU budget, planned for 2008. It will offer a real opportunity to have a close look at the way in which public money is spent.


Press releases:

11/10/2006

EU Budget 2007: All EU spending should deliver value for money. James Elles MEP

11/10/2006

Haushalt 2007 lässt an Konsistenz und Transparenz zu wünschen übrig/ Budget 2007 leaves much to be desired as far as consistency and transparency are concerned. Inge Gräßle MEP

18/05/2006

EU budget 2007: EU should lead globalisation process, be more outward-looking and improve its accountability. James Elles MEP

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