The Commission's proposal aligns the Union's budget to our political priorities – as reflected in the positive agenda set out by President Jean-Claude Junckerin his State of the Union address on 14 September 2016 and agreed by the EU27 Leaders in Bratislava on 16 September 2016 and in the Rome Declaration of 25 March 2017. By focusing on the areas where the Union is best placed to deliver, it is a budget for a Europe that protects, empowers and defends.
President Jean-Claude Juncker said: “Today is an important moment for our Union. The new budget is an opportunity to shape our future as a new, ambitious Union of 27 bound together by solidarity. With today's proposal we have put forward a pragmatic plan for how to do more with less. The economic wind in our sails gives us some breathing space but does not shelter us from having to make savings in some areas. We will ensure sound financial management through the first ever rule of law mechanism. This is what it means to act responsibly with our taxpayers' money. The ball is now in the court of Parliament and Council. I strongly believe we should aim to have agreement before the European Parliament elections next year.”
Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger in charge of Budget and Human Resources said: “This budget proposal is truly about EU added value. We invest even more in areas where one single Member State cannot act alone or where it is more efficient to act together - be it research, migration, border control or defence. And we continue to finance traditional - but modernised - policies, such as Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy, because we all benefit from the high standard of our agricultural products and regions catching up economically.”
Building on today's proposals, the Commission will present, in the weeks to come, detailed proposals for the future sector-specific financial programmes:
The decision on the future long-term EU budget will then fall to the Council, acting by unanimity, with the consent of the European Parliament. Timing is of the essence. Negotiations on the current long-term EU budget took too long. As a result, key financial programmes were delayed and projects with real potential to spur the economic recovery postponed.
Negotiations should therefore be given the utmost priority, and agreement should be reached before the European Parliament elections and the summit in Sibiu on 9 May 2019. The Commission will do everything in its power to allow for a swift agreement.
For More Information
Legal text:
Factsheets:
- A modern EU budget for a Union that protects, empowers and defends
- Modernising the EU budget's revenue side
- Sound financial management and the Rule of Law
- Research and Innovation
- Investments
- Digital transformation
- Regional development and cohesion
- The EU budget and the Economic and Monetary Union
- Investing in people
- The Common Agricultural Policy
- Sustainability, environment protection and fight against climate change
- Migration and border management
- Security
- Defence
- Neighbourhood and the world
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