EU Budget 2019: no deal before the end of the conciliation period

Jean Arthuis (ALDE, FR), Chair of the Committee on Budgets, said: “Everyone has made commendable efforts to reconcile the respective positions of Parliament and Council. We were unable to do so because of the Council’s reservation on the possibility of reallocating unused research funds from 2017 to complement the Horizon 2020 research programme for 2019 (Article 15.3 of the Financial regulation). The parties have agreed to continue the dialogue in the coming weeks in order to achieve the best possible budget that meets the expectations of Europeans in 2019 – in the fields of research to prepare for the future, Erasmus+, the Youth Employment Initiative, support for SMEs and tackling migration.” The lead rapporteur Daniele Viotti (S&D, IT) said: “Today we mark just a technical pause that will help reaching a better agreement on the basis of a new proposal from the European Commission. Parliament and Council will try their best to deliver a budget that delivers for every European.” Paul Rübig (EPP, AT), rapporteur for the other sections, said: “The 2019 budget also lays the foundation for the next multiannual financial framework from 2021, which is why it is crucial for the European Parliament that funds which were meant to go to research and development in 2017, but could not be used, should now be made available next year to strengthen Horizon 2020, one of the most successful EU programmes. Research policy is a priority for the next MFF and the basis for a fair social policy.” Next steps The Commission announced that it would table a new draft budget at the end of November. Negotiations will then continue with a view of finding an agreement before the end of the year.