EPP-ED Group:

Theme of the day of 25 October 2007

EU Budget 2008

© European Parliament

Richard James ASHWORTH MEP
EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

© European Parliament

Ville ITÄLÄ MEP
Vice-Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

The European Parliament discussed and voted on the general budget for 2008 to conclude its first reading on Thursday 25 October in Strasbourg. The Rapporteurs for the Commission's budget and the budgets of other institutions are Richard Ashworth MEP (United Kingdom) and Ville Itälä MEP (Finland).

After the vote in the Budget Committee, the European Parliament currently foresees a total budget of €129.678 billion in commitments and €124.194 billion in payments for 2008. This would account for 0.99 percent of the European Union's Gross National Income.

The Committee furthermore demanded additional funds for the European Satellite Navigation System Galileo and the European Institute of Technology amounting to €739.1m plus another €87m for category 4 'The European Union as a global partner', especially to meet growing obligations in Kosovo and Palestine.

Rapporteur Ville Itälä MEP is happy with Parliament's budget for 2008, totalling €1.4 billion, a 3.9% rise compared to 2007. The rise is partly due to the adoption of projects improving the conditions for legislative work, such as enhancing assistance for MEPs. However, the Budget Committee has already rejected some cost-increasing projects proposed by the administration. The EPP-ED Group is satisfied with the compromise but will re-table amendments regarding the participation of political groups in Parliament's Web-TV and the Visitor's Centre.

After the vote, Parliament's position will then go to the Council for second reading.

Press releases:

25/10/2007	Parliament's budget: Emphasis on legislative work. Ville Itälä MEP
24/10/2007	Haushalt 2008: Ratspräsidentschaft braucht ein klares Mandat für die noch offenen Fragen bei Galileo und in der GASP/ Budget 2008: Presidency needs a clear mandate also for Galileo and CFSP. Reimer Böge MEP
24/10/2007	Haushalt 2008: Kommission braucht Aktionsplan für Personalumbau/ Budget 2008: Action plan for Commission staff - reorganisation is required. Inge Gräßle MEP

	EPP-ED on Financial Perspectives 2007-2013
	The Committee on Budgets
	Ville Itälä's Website

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14/12/2006	EU budget 2007: value for money secured
12/10/2006	Budget 2007

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