EU's seven year budgetary framework: Council ready for a deal

The Council renewed its commitment to conclude the talks with the European Parliament on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020.

© Daevid, Fotolia.com

At its meeting on 22 April 2013, the Council supported the Irish presidency's efforts to broker a deal with the European Parliament on the next MFF by the end of June. "We do not have any time to waste in advancing our MFF discussion", said the Irish Vice Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs, Eamon Gilmore. "We need to be able to reassure our citizens that the new programmes will be in place in time at the beginning of next year".

The Council is also willing to work constructively on  draft amending budget no 2 for 2013. This is a Commission proposal to increase the 2013 EU budget by €11.2 billion. "In order not to delay the discussions on the MFF we propose to take both processes forward in parallel", explained Mr Gilmore, who remains optimistic on the perspectives for a deal: "Having heard the Parliament's concerns and having listened very carefully to the views of member states, I'm convinced that we can, with sufficient goodwill on all sides, reach a satisfactory agreement on the MFF".

See also:

• Press release (pdf)
• Public debate
• Press conference webcast
• Council website on MFF negotiations
• European Council agreement on MFF
• European Parliament's resolution on the MFF