[ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the overall level of the next MFF (960bn EUR in commitments, 908bn EUR in payments at 2011 prices), as decided by the European Council and eventually endorsed by Parliament, represents a cut of 3.5 % in commitments and 3.7 % in payments compared to the 2007-2013 financial framework, despite the growing EU competences following the Lisbon Treaty and the enlargement of the Union to 28 Member States; whereas this level falls short of EU political goals and commitments, in particular in relation to the Europe 2020 strategy;

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

Philip CLAEYS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Acknowledges that the fiscal consolidation that Member States are currently facing did not facilitate a more ambitious agreement on the MFF 2014- 2020; ~~deeply regrets, however, the fact~~notes that, as a result of these negotiations, the role of the EU budget as an important and common policy instrument for overcoming the current economic and social crisis and coordinating and enhancing national efforts to regain growth and generate employment in the whole EU has been largely disregarded;

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

Philip CLAEYS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is deeply concerned at the fact that any budgetary debate in the Council has been for many years poisoned by the logic of ‘fair returns’; stresses that this situation is largely due to the current system of EU financing, whereby some 85 % of revenues stem from national contributions instead of genuine own resources; considers that such a system places disproportionate emphasis on net balances between the Member States and has led to the progressive introduction of complex and opaque rebates and other correction mechanisms for the financing of the EU budget;deleted

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

Philip CLAEYS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that this logic also prevailed in the way the MFF agreement was struck by the European Council on 8 February 2013; considers it regrettable that this was reflected in the fact that the national allocations, especially from agriculture and cohesion policy, were determined at that moment; deplores, in particular, the list of special allocations and ‘gifts’ granted in the course of negotiations between Heads of State and Government, which are not based on objective and verifiable criteria, but rather reflect the bargaining power of Member States, trying to secure their national interests and maximise their net returns; denounces the lack of transparency in striking this agreement;deleted

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

Philip CLAEYS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Strongly rejects this purely accounting vision of the EU budget, which disregards the European added value, contradicts the principle of EU solidarity and underestimates the current and potential role of the EU budget in strengthening economic governance; stresses that the EU budget is predominantly an investment budget with a strong leverage effect and a catalyst for growth and jobs across the Union; considers it regrettable, therefore, that some Member States seem to regard national contributions to the EU budget purely as a cost to be minimised;deleted

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

Philip CLAEYS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Is convinced, moreover, that tangible progress can only be achieved following an in-depth reform of the financing of the EU budget that should return to a system of genuine, clear, simple and fair own resources; stresses that this should lead to the introduction of one or several new own resources that will considerably reduce the share of GNI-based contributions to the EU budget and, accordingly, the burden on national treasuries; reiterates its strong commitment to any process leading to the reform of the current unfair, non- transparent and complex system of own resources;deleted

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

Philip CLAEYS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Strongly believes that the High Level Group on Own Resources represents a unique opportunity to overcome the deadlock that has arisen over the reform of the current own-resources system; expects that it will contribute significantly to understanding the shortcomings of the current system and the benefits that can derive from an in-depth, comprehensive reform and the introduction of new and genuine own resources which can significantly reduce the share of GNI contributions to the EU budget;deleted

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

7 Amendments of Philip CLAEYS related to 2014/2005(INI)

ParlTrack - 2011-2024