Raad Economische en Financiële Zaken (budget), Brussel - Montesquieu Instituut

The Council will provide guidance to the Cyprus presidency for the negotiations with the European Parliament on the 2013 EU budget which takes place within the Conciliation Committee meeting to be held on the same day. The Conciliation Committee is composed of 27 members of the Council and an equal number of members of the European Parliament. If the Committee reaches an agreement on a joint text, the Council and the European Parliament will have to formally approve it within 14 days.

In order to take into account the current budgetary constraints in the member states, the Council is seeking to limit the payments' increase to 2.79%, which corresponds to an amount of EUR 132.70 billion. The Council wishes to target EU spending on measures enhancing growth and jobs: the biggest increase (+6.71% compared to 2012) would go to heading 1 (sustainable growth). This would also ensure adequate financial resources for implementing the "compact for growth and jobs" agreed at the June European Council. The Commission proposed an increase of 6.85% in payments corresponding to EUR 137.92 billion. The European Parliament asked for a 6.82% increase which would bring the total amount to EUR 137.90 billion.

The presidency will hold a briefing in the Council press room a few days before the meeting.

A press conference will take place at the end of the meeting.

A Presidency briefing, agenda and background note will be published on the Council website closer to the date of the meeting.