News
BackWednesday evening, the Council announced an agreement with the European Parliament on the EU Budgets for the years 2014-2020. The fly in the ointment: the negotiating team of the European Parliament had not agreed to the proposals of the Irish Presidency. The MEPs participating in the meeting of the Committee on Budgets were appalled by the approach of the Council and spoke of misleading the public and manipulating the media.
Reimar Böge of the European People’s Party and one of the four rapporteurs of the European Parliament could not hide his disgust. The negotiations on Wednesday had not resulted in an agreement with the Council. This was a manipulation of the media. The negotiating team of the European Parliament had decided that it made no sense to continue the negotiations because the positions of the two EU bodies were too far apart. In spite of this, the Irish Presidency wanted to discuss “the result” in the meeting of the General Council with Council colleagues from other Member States next week, said the MEP. Böge also reported that he had now informed his faction leader that it had not been possible to reach an agreement and that he would lay down his mandate out of protest, said the EU representative.
Ivailo Kalfin, Social Democrat and also rapporteur, was also disappointed about the Council. MEPs had not even been provided with an official text. He does not believe that the differences with the Council could be solved over the weekend and now focusses on the next Presidency under Lithuania. He regretted that Böge had laid down his mandate.
Jean-Luc Dehaene of the European People’s Party was cautious: the European Parliament had to decide whether it could agree with what was on offer. It was difficult to negotiate with a Council Presidency, whose results had to be unilaterally adopted in the Council.
Both the Liberal Jan Mulder and the Green Helga Trüpel voiced their displeasure about the conduct of the Council. Both want to recommend to their factions to reject the text on the EU Financial Framework. The President of the Socialists and Democrats Group, Hannes Swoboda also announced the rejection of the EU Financial Framework in its current version.
In spite of the unanimous rejection of the approach adopted by the Council, the restraint shown by the Conservative MEP Jean-Luc Dehaene is definitely noticeable. The fact that Reimar Böge, who is after all his faction colleague, has laid down his negotiation mandate, could be a hint that the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament might still agree to the wishes of the Council. The pressure on the MEPs of this group should be significant: because 18 of the 27 heads of state and government are members of the EPP, and these are in favour of keeping the EU Budget as low as possible. Concerning the European Conservatives, it will also be interesting to see whether they reject the Council text, albeit for other reasons: because in the past, this group has time and again demanded an even tighter austerity budget – similar to the British Prime Minister David Cameron, who belongs to this group. Which approach the EU Parliament factions will pursue in the end will probably not be known until next week, when the political groups have concluded their deliberations.
Should the European Parliament again reject the new Council Proposal, it will be left to the Lithuanian Council Presidency, which takes over from Ireland on 1 July, to find a compromise. However, one thing is already clear: time is running out; after all the term of the new EU Financial Framework already commences on 1. January 2014.
Ivailo Kalfin, Social Democrat and also rapporteur, was also disappointed about the Council. MEPs had not even been provided with an official text. He does not believe that the differences with the Council could be solved over the weekend and now focusses on the next Presidency under Lithuania. He regretted that Böge had laid down his mandate.
Jean-Luc Dehaene of the European People’s Party was cautious: the European Parliament had to decide whether it could agree with what was on offer. It was difficult to negotiate with a Council Presidency, whose results had to be unilaterally adopted in the Council.
Both the Liberal Jan Mulder and the Green Helga Trüpel voiced their displeasure about the conduct of the Council. Both want to recommend to their factions to reject the text on the EU Financial Framework. The President of the Socialists and Democrats Group, Hannes Swoboda also announced the rejection of the EU Financial Framework in its current version.
In spite of the unanimous rejection of the approach adopted by the Council, the restraint shown by the Conservative MEP Jean-Luc Dehaene is definitely noticeable. The fact that Reimar Böge, who is after all his faction colleague, has laid down his negotiation mandate, could be a hint that the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament might still agree to the wishes of the Council. The pressure on the MEPs of this group should be significant: because 18 of the 27 heads of state and government are members of the EPP, and these are in favour of keeping the EU Budget as low as possible. Concerning the European Conservatives, it will also be interesting to see whether they reject the Council text, albeit for other reasons: because in the past, this group has time and again demanded an even tighter austerity budget – similar to the British Prime Minister David Cameron, who belongs to this group. Which approach the EU Parliament factions will pursue in the end will probably not be known until next week, when the political groups have concluded their deliberations.
Should the European Parliament again reject the new Council Proposal, it will be left to the Lithuanian Council Presidency, which takes over from Ireland on 1 July, to find a compromise. However, one thing is already clear: time is running out; after all the term of the new EU Financial Framework already commences on 1. January 2014.