The European Parliament budget negotiators deeply regret that talks over the 2011 budget have reached deadlock over a stubborn refusal by a minority of EU governments to talk about a procedure to involve Parliament in discussions on the EU financing system and in spite of major concessions made earlier by Parliament.
The EP negotiating team, led by President Jerzy Buzek, had reiterated its willingness to limit the rise in 2011 payments to 2.91 per cent, while it had already capped commitments (which determine future payments) to 1 per cent. However, the MEPs also repeated their desire to open talks about how Parliament can be involved in a review of the EU budget financing system in order to make it less crisis-prone. They stressed that this is provided for in the Lisbon Treaty, where it says that: "Throughout the procedure leading to the adoption of the financial framework, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission shall take any measure necessary to facilitate its adoption." [TFEU Article 312 §5]
EP President Jerzy BUZEK said: "We wanted a deal, but I regret that a few Member States closed the door to the 2011 budget agreement. The intransigence of a few Member States in the Council undermines the confidence of our citizens that the EU is working effectively. The EP - backed by a large political majority - the Commission and a majority of Member States were ready for the agreement. Only a small minority of Member States blocked it unwilling to engage in a constructive discussion with the EP on the implementation of the Treaty.
The European Parliament presented a very moderate position and in the end, we did not ask for one euro more than what the Council was proposing. Parliament's only condition was to have a serious agreement on rules and procedures implementing the Lisbon Treaty to avoid future budgetary crises. The Council was not ready for an agreement."
News source: EU Press Room link: article
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