Members of the European Parliament's budgets committee today backed an S&D proposal to increase payments in the EU budget for 2015 above the level proposed by the Commission.
This proposal aims to tackle the payment crisis of more than €20 billion and to ensure sufficient funding for policies on growth and job creation and to prevent payment delays.
S&D Euro MP and European parliament’s general rapporteur on the budget 2015 Eider Gardiazábal said after the vote:
"The European Parliament has chosen to be serious, responsible and consistent. We want a budget which allows the EU to pay all its bills and that respects Europe’s commitments on growth and job policies and for its missions on the world stage.
"The EU’s current budgetary situation is catastrophic. For several years, we have faced a critical shortage for payments. By the end of 2014, the EU may once again face a pile of unpaid bills – worth more than €20 billion. This is unacceptable. This time, we want to use all the means at our disposal to prevent payment delays next year.”
S&D Group vice-president for the budget Isabelle Thomas added:
“The Council has once again proved inconsistent. Cutting back EU programmes aimed at boosting growth and job creation makes no sense, especially in these times of economic stagnation and high unemployment.
“The EU budget has shown it can create added value to stimulate investment. That is why we have restore funds the Council has cut for research and development programmes, such as the EU’s Horizon 2020; aid for small and medium-sized enterprises; education, including the student mobility programme Erasmus+; and aid for the most deprived.
“In addition, we have reallocated funds for financing missions outside the EU, in particular through humanitarian and development aid.”
