Tag: budget

EU aid is not only morally right, it’s an economically sound investment. EU humanitarian and development aid is deemed to be one of the most efficient, impactful and transparent sources of funding in the world, say Natalia Alonso, Tim Roosen, Karen Schroh and Eloise Todd.

After more than two years of campaigning for a social pillar in the EU budget, the proposals made last week are extremely disappointing and worrying, writes Pierre Baussand.

EU staff members went on strike on Wednesday (21 November) to protest against proposals to axe €80 billion from the EU's proposed budget for the period 2014-2020. The protest was especially targeted at British Prime Minister David Cameron's role in the negotiation, ahead of a special EU summit dedicated to the bloc's long-term budget.

MEPs are urging EU ministers to prepare a roadmap for ending the European Parliament's costly shuttle between its seats in Brussels and Strasbourg, in a resolution on the 2013 budget adopted Tuesday (23 October).

The attempt by the UK government to instrumentalise the need for further integration in the eurozone in an attempt to dismantle parts of the Union is highly unlikely to succeed, argue Fabian Zuleeg and Janis A. Emmanouilidis.

Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt might have to call an election later this year as her centre-left government has lost support from the Red-Green Alliance, whose votes are needed to keep her in power.

The European Parliament approved yesterday (13 June) an economic governance package that foresees setting up a redemption fund to help countries in financial trouble and gives more power to the EU to control national budgetary and economic policies. That gives a clear mandate to start negotiations with EU ministers that are expected to last for months.

Spain's economy minister and European Union officials denied yesterday (10 April) that the country needed an international bailout, following Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

The European Commission’s proposals on pensions presented yesterday (16 February) by the EU employment and social affairs chief, László Andor, was met by a flurry of criticism.

The European Commission has unveiled yesterday (6 October) its blueprint for the next generation of EU cohesion funds after 2013, under which it will be able to suspend funding if member states flout budget rules or breach the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact. 

Even though solidarity is supposedly at the heart of the EU Treaties, financial operators and citizens are not convinced and confusion reigns. It is imperative that EU countries come up with a European solidarity pact to pool resources for boosting growth and competitiveness, writes centre-right MEP Alain Lamassoure.

France is "moving towards constructive realism" regarding the European Union, said the country's new European affairs minister, Jean Leonetti. In an exclusive interview with EurActiv.fr, he defended France's long-standing positions on agriculture and disputed a proposed increase of the EU budget.

The European Commission's EU budget proposal is out of touch, lacks ambition and is wedded to an outdated concept of 'ever closer union', argues Czech MEP Jan Zahradil.

Under pressure from nationalist parties, many EU member states have led attacks against the European budget and the Schengen border-free area, said Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski, denouncing the "arrogance" of some countries. The Polish budget commissioner spoke to EurActiv Poland in an interview.

The European Commission yesterday (7 June) slammed national economic reform plans for lacking ambition and concreteness.

Liberals in the European Parliament are readying their boxing gloves after unveiling an 11-page blueprint demanding a radical shift towards an EU budget based on own resources, rather than relying on member states' contributions.

The European Commission has reacted strongly to press reports suggesting there are serious problems with the speed of payments under the EU's regional funds, laying the blame on member states that often fail to provide their share of funding.

European Union member states will have to give up ground if a deal is to be struck on next year's EU budget, the European Parliament's chief budget negotiator said yesterday (8 November).

Europe must respect "difficult times" by adopting a budget that reflects austerity measures being introduced by national governments, European Parliament Vice-President Diana Wallis told EurActiv Slovakia in a wide-ranging interview. 

Three quarters (74%) of Conservative Party members think UK Prime Minister David Cameron missed an opportunity last week to repatriate powers from Brussels to London and slash the EU budget, a poll reveals.  

The European Commission is considering boosting the role played by the EU's own resources in the next budgetary cycle, the institution's vice-president, Maroš Šefčovič, told EurActiv Slovakia in an interview. 

Zsolt Darvas, a research fellow at Bruegel, a think-tank, says wage hikes from the past five years should be "given back" in order to restore Europe's competitiveness.

On his first visit to Brussels, Polish President Bronisław Komorowski stressed his continued backing for European assistance to poorer regions and farmers ahead of EU budget talks later this year.

The EU's monetary affairs chief said on Wednesday (26 May) Europe faced economic stagnation and political irrelevance if it did not carry out reforms and chided Germany for acting alone in banning some short-selling activities.