Hard negotiations over budget 2010 of the EU start today
Adelina Marini, July 10, 2009
The Budget Council is expected to reach agreement on the draft budget for the financial year 2010, closing herewith its first reading on the preliminary draft budget submitted by the Commission. Against the background of the current economic and financial crisis, the Council will endeavour to find a sound balance between targeted cuts in some areas and the financing of political priorities such as measures stimulating growth and employment. Before its first reading on the preliminary draft budget submitted by the Commission, the Council will hold a conciliation meeting with the European Parliament trying to find common ground for the forthcoming negotiations on the 2010 budget.
Final adoption and signing of the budget are expected to take place in Strasbourg, in December, if the negotiations prove to be successful because, according to the Nice Treaty, the rights of the European Parliament have been significantly raised, especially regarding the financial issues. On the other hand, the current composition of the Parliament after the elections in June, is quite heterogeneous and it is not clear whether the current speed of taking decisions will be kept.