Barroso aims at budget deal with Parliament within three months[de] 

According to a press release by the Commission, it includes a major review of the budget in 2008 and 2009. This might make agreeing to the Commission's proposal easier for Members of the Parliament who say they were deceived by the Council's high-handed decision on a budget that failed to meet expectations. 

In a resolution adopted on 18 January 2006, MEPs criticised the Council for putting forward its proposal without consulting the Parliament and "insist[ed] on playing its full parliamentary role in the definition of policies, their reform and their budget". The Commission's new proposal, which, as of the morning of 2 February 2006, had yet published on the Commission's website, also includes 3.5 billion euro for President Barroso's project of a globalisation adjustment fund and close to 5 billion euro over the 7-year period for EU reactions to unforeseeable events such as natural catastrophes, addressing the Parliament's request for "a higher degree of flexibility". 

"With this proposal the way is now cleared for a constructive negotiation between the Parliament, the Council and the Commission," Barroso said. Budget Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite set a timeline for an agreement by April, adding: "Everyone understands very well that otherwise the execution of many EU programmes will be problematic as from 1 January 2007."  A PPE-DE MEP who is on the Parliament's budget committee told EurActiv on 1 February 2006: "What is needed now is a solution that will allow the Parliament and the Commission to save face. I am sure there will be a way of avoiding a deadlock."