Summary of the meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets (BUDG) held in Brussels on 31 May 2012 - Montesquieu Instituut

 

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COUNCIL OF

Brussels, 6 June 2012

THE EUROPEAN UNION

10925/12

PE 248 FIN 404 INST 392 -

NOTE

from :

General Secretariat of the Council

to : Delegations

Subject: Summary of the meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets (BUDG) held in Brussels on 31 May 2012

The meeting was chaired by Mr LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR).

Item 5 on the agenda

2013 budget - mandate for trilogue

BUDG/7/08796

Rapporteur: Mr LA VIA (EPP, IT)

co-decision issues were present in this text, that there were no figures but only different options and

texts in brackets. He considered that the negotiations were still not initiated and that the European

Council of June would not be ready to take decisions or to adopt orientations. The EP delegation

again insisted on its priorities: the need for sufficient amounts, the link to be made with own

resources, the need for flexibility and the principle that nothing was agreed as long as everything

was not agreed. The European Parliament was preparing a resolution to be discussed in Plenary in

order to recall EP priorities in terms of flexibility. Supported by Mr KALFIN, Mr LAMASSOURE

considered this resolution as essential and as a basis for the negotiations. In their opinion, flexibility

was necessary in the MFF but also in specific regulations, especially since the budget was reduced.

Mr BÖGE asked the Committee for comments on the draft resolution and urged the Commission

for more cooperation. He strongly regretted that, in his opinion, the Commission seemed sometimes

more in favour of intergovernmental agreements.

Item 7 on the agenda

Draft amending budget No 3 for 2012: Surplus from the 2011 financial year

BUDG/7/09369

Rapporteur: Ms BALZANI (S&D, IT)

This item was postponed.

Item 8 on the agenda

Support from the European Regional Development Fund to the 'European territorial

cooperation' goal

BUDG/7/07458

Rapporteur: Mr GEIER (S&D, DE)

Mr GODMANIS (ALDE, LV) and Mr LAMASSOURE underlined some implementation problems

in this policy field.

Mr ALFONSI (GREENS, FR) wanted to recall EP's position which requested an increase by 7% for

this programme.

The vote in BUDG will take place on 20/21 June 2012.

Item 9 on the agenda

Cohesion Fund and repeal of Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006

BUDG/7/07465

Rapporteur: Mr COZZOLINO (S&D, IT)

and

Item 11 on the agenda

Specific provisions concerning the European Regional Development Fund and the

"Investment for growth and jobs" goal and repeal of Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006

BUDG/7/07475

Rapporteur: Mr COZZOLINO (S&D, IT)

Both items were dealt with together.

The rapporteur regretted that the Commission proposed a reduced budget for the next MFF in both

cases and wondered how the objectives could be reached in such conditions. He wanted to maintain

the current amounts. Concerning the transfer from the Cohesion Fund of EUR 10 billion which

would be ring-fenced to finance transport projects under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), he

Mr ELLES (ECR, UK) insisted on the need to develop high-speed broadband networks to promote

growth and employment.

Mr LAMASSOURE pointed out that the cohesion policy was not only a redistribution of funds

from richer to poorer countries or regions but should ensure added value.

The vote in BUDG will take place on 20/21 June.

Item 10 on the agenda

Common provisions on European Funds and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006

BUDG/7/07486

Rapporteur: Mr VAUGHAN (S&D, UK)

The rapporteur welcomed the fact that the Commission proposed uniform rules for all funds and

simplification measures by harmonising rules and using lump sums. However, he questioned the

introduction of macro-economic conditionalities and the proposed performance reserves. In his

opinion, this last measure would prioritise the simpliest projects. Moreover, he was concerned by

the decrease of EUR 18 billion in the next MFF and recalled the SURE resolution requesting to

maintain at least the current amounts.

Mr GODMANIS informed the Committee on the state of play of this item in REGI which intended

to considerably amend the Commission's proposal. REGI was notably opposed to macro-economic

conditionalities.

Item 12 on the agenda

Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation

BUDG/7/08200

Rapporteur: Mr KOZLOWSKI (EPP, PL)

The rapporteur noted the increase proposed by the Commission in this area. He welcomed the

efforts for more transparency and simplification. However, he wanted to emphasize the need for

better coordination, consistency and complementarity on EU and national levels and also with other

international, local and regional organisations. He considered the nuclear industry as an important

source of energy. He also intended to underline in his opinion the importance of providing funding

to candidate, potential candidate and European Neighbourhood Instrument beneficiaries.

Ms TRÜPEL (GREENS, DE), Ms MUÑIZ DE URQUIZA (S&D, ES) and Mr GEIER (S&D, DE)

agreed to promote actions for the safety of existing infrastructures. They could support the

rapporteur on budgetary aspects but not on the "ideological parts" of his draft opinion, notably

concerning the development of nuclear energy.

Item 13 on the agenda

Establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation

BUDG/7/08333

Rapporteur: Mr KOZLOWSKI (EPP, PL)

The rapporteur pointed out the increase proposed by the Commission in this instrument. He wanted

to insist in his opinion on the risk that allocations for fighting climate change could jeopardise the

Item 14 on the agenda

Innovative financial instruments in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework

(MFF)

BUDG/7/08736

Rapporteur: Ms GARDIAZÁBAL RUBIAL (S&D, ES)

The rapporteur recalled the Commission's proposals and presented the main issues she intended to

develop in her draft report. She wondered if EIB should be the only partner or if it was necessary to

enlarge the cooperation. A second issue was if the amount foreseen by the Commission was

sufficient or not. A third issue was the problem of the reflows and a fourth one the issue of the risk

for the EU budget. On this last issue, supported by Ms JENSEN and by Mr GARRIGA POLLEDO,

she considered that the risk was limited to the amount marked on the budget line.

Ms JENSEN supported the Commission's approach and also wanted to analyse what was worth

continuing with and what was to be improved. She expressed some concerns on the project bonds

where EU would support an independent market. She also recognised the leverage effect of the risk

sharing instrument. As regards the EIB, she considered that the cooperation could be improved,

notably as regards development issues. Concerning reflows, she recognised that this issue was to be

taken into account.

Mr GARRIGA POLLEDO said that his group supported the rapporteur and also considered the

financial instruments as essential. He underlined however that the financial instruments should be

used in specific cases, for viable projects with difficult support from the market. He also insisted on

the need for a balance between budgetary control and flexibility and for a consistency with the EU

Mr LAMASSOURE confirmed that a research study on financial instruments in EU policies would

be presented on 20 June with the participation of representatives of the Court of Auditors.

The vote in BUDG will take place on 12 July and in the Plenary in September.

Item 15 on the agenda

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020)

BUDG/7/07503

Rapporteur: Ms SOUSA (GUE, PT)

This item was postponed.

Item 16 on the agenda

'ERASMUS FOR ALL' - The Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport

BUDG/7/07911

Rapporteur: Ms JDRZEJEWSKA (EPP, PL)

This item was postponed.

Item 17 on the agenda

Draft amending budget No 2 for 2012: EU Solidarity Fund appropriations to address flooding in Italy (Liguria and Tuscany) in 2011

BUDG/7/09159

Rapporteur: Ms BALZANI (S&D, IT)

 

Item 19 on the agenda

Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: EGF/2011/020 ES/Communidad Valenciana - Footwear, Spain

BUDG/7/09478

Rapporteur: Ms MATERA (EPP, IT)

The rapporteur's draft report was adopted.

Item 20 on the agenda

Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund - floods in Liguria and Tuscany

BUDG/7/09157

Rapporteur: Mr FERNANDES (EPP, PT)

The rapporteur's draft report was adopted.

Item 21 on the agenda

Health for Growth Programme, the third multi-annual programme of EU action in the field of health for the period 2014-2020

BUDG/7/07743

Rapporteur: Ms WERTHMANN (NI, AT)

The rapporteur's draft report and legislative resolution were adopted.

Item 22 on the agenda

Consumer programme 2014-2020

BUDG/7/07738

Rapporteur: Mr FERNANDES (EPP, PT)

 

Item 24 on the agenda

The Annual Report from the Council to the European Parliament on the Common Foreign and Security Policy

BUDG/7/09132

Rapporteur: Ms NEYNSKY (EPP,BG)

The rapporteur's draft report was adopted.

Item 25 on the agenda

Establishing a Partnership Instrument for cooperation with third countries

BUDG/7/08339

Rapporteur: Mr KOZLOWSKI (EPP, PL)

The rapporteur's draft report and legislative resolution were adopted.

Item 26 on the agenda

Implementation and exploitation of European satellite navigation systems

BUDG/7/08052

Rapporteur: Ms CARVALHO (EPP, PT.)

The rapporteur's draft report and legislative resolution were adopted.

Item 27 on the agenda

European statistical programme 2013-2017

BUDG/7/08393

Rapporteur: Mr EPPINK (ECR, BE)

The rapporteur's draft report and legislative resolution were adopted.

Item 29 on the agenda

EU Programme for Social Change and Innovation

BUDG/7/07511

Rapporteur: Ms GRELIER (S&D, FR)

The rapporteur's draft report was adopted.

Item 30 on the agenda

2012 budget: Section III - Commission

Rapporteur: Ms BALZANI (S&D, IT)

DEC07/2012 (release of an EPSO reserve)

DEC08/2012 (release of a reserve concerning communication)

DEC09/2012 (transfer from title 32 (Energy projects to aid economic recovery) to title 08

(Cooperation - Health))

DEC10/2012 (EGF case)

DEC13/2012 (Emergency Aid Reserve - Sahel))

These five transfers were approved.

Concerning DEC07/2012, Ms JDRZEJEWSKA asked EPSO for additional information on the real

cost of recruitment.

Concerning DEC09/2012, Mr LAMASSOURE pointed out that, according to the Financial

Item 32 on the agenda

Buildings policy

BUDG/7/04688

Rapporteur: Ms HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE)

This item was postponed.

Item 33 on the agenda

Any other business

No other item was discussed.

Item 34 on the agenda

Date of next meeting

20 June 2012, 9h00 - 12h30 and 15h00 - 18h30 (Brussels)

21 June 2012, 9h00 - 12h30 (Brussels)

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