On 02 May the European Commission presented its budget proposal for the 2021-2027 period. In order to both cope with €15 billion less per annum because of the UK’s exit, and balance the Member States’ own distinct priorities ,the Commission is proposing to raise the EU budget allocation from 1.03% to 1.114% of European GNI. In exchange for the larger contribution, the Commission has proposed targeted funding reductions in the Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy programmes while raising funding for border management, research and innovation, European defence, and digital transformation. Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has defended the proposal as a good basis for negotiation. However negotiations between the Member States will not likely be easy given those who see the budget as going too far, others not far enough, those critical of certain funding cuts, and those decrying inadequate investment in other policy areas.
“If we had decided to maintain all the current policies as well as add new priorities as identified by the Council, we would have had to present a budget amounting to 2% of GNI. (…) For the upcoming time period we are proposing a reasonable and realistic budget of €1.279 billion,” the European Commission president stated. The budget figure equates to 1.114% of GNI for the EU 27 as compared with 1.03% currently. The Commission had originally been proposing a greater increase but in light of some
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