COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS BUDGETARY DISCIPLINE AND ROMANIA AND BULGARIA'S ACCESSION TO EU “TO BE CONFIRMED”

Before the final adoption of the financial framework 2007-2013, on 14 March the Ecofin Council adopted its conclusions on the budget guidelines for 2007. It stressed that the budgetary procedure for 2007, to be presented by the European Commission towards the end of April, would be marked by two important elements: the new Financial Perspective and the forthcoming accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU to be confirmed.

The Council reaffirmed the importance of maintaining a framework of “overall budget discipline” and reiterated its wish that the EU budget for 2007 should provide sufficient resources to implement the various EU policies effectively and efficiently. It emphasised that it should apply the same degree of budgetary constraint as exercised by Member States for their own budgets. The Member States considered that appropriations for 2007 should reflect real and well-defined needs and be compatible with the ceilings set out in the Financial Perspective. The Council again stressed the importance of keeping a tight grip on payment appropriations.

Agricultural expenditure: the Commission was invited to present realistic forecasts regarding CAP expenditure. The Council wanted particular attention to by paid to ensuring that payment appropriations for expenditure related to rural development were accurate.

Structural actions: the Commission was invited to continue its efforts together with Member States towards establishing an accurate level of payment appropriations for structural funds. It also stressed the importance of simplification of procedures to facilitate implementation.

External actions: the Council considered it crucial to retain sufficient margins within the ceiling in order to be able to respond to unforeseen actins and crises. The Council considered that account should be taken of its priorities and drew attention to the importance that it had always attached to CFSP funding.

Administrative expenditure: the Council considered it essential that institutional effectiveness was an increasingly important factor when allocating administrative resources. It called on the institutions, during the course of 2006 and as part of the budget procedure, to present their plans for assessing and realising gains on administrative costs for 2007-2013. The Member States pointed out how important it was for the institutions to ensure that the recruitment process in the context of the enlargement was carried forward without delay.