Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-12-16-Speech-2-130"
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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the 2004 budget has squared the circle. It is the first budget for a Union with 25 Member States. It is an historic budget. The profile of the 2004 budget is clearly geared towards enlargement. It is also clearly geared towards Europe’s growing role in international affairs. Establishing an area of freedom, security and justice is also given a higher profile in the budget. At the same time, payments have successfully been reduced to an historic low. Payments amount to EUR 99.7 billion, which represents 0.98% of Gross National Income (GNI) for the enlarged Union in the year 2004. This outcome – catering for the historic enlargement process, on the one hand, and restricting expenditure, on the other – this squaring of the circle, is, as we know, not a miracle but the outcome of rational calculations.
I would like to say a few words about the constitutional debate. It is disappointing that the new constitution could not be agreed before enlargement. Let me also say, however, that there was an attempt in some quarters to restrict this House’s budgetary rights. The Commission firmly rejected this attempt. My experience over the last four years has taught me one very important lesson: anyone who claims that the European Parliament does not exercise its budgetary rights responsibly is utterly wrong. Every budget that we have adopted, and especially this 2004 budget, shows that the opposite is true.
The budget is an excellent example of outstanding interinstitutional cooperation. I would like to mention the very positive cooperation with the Italian Presidency and the President-in-Office, Mr Magri, in this context. I have great respect for the general rapporteur, Mr Mulder. Quite simply, you have an outstanding grasp of the material and have been resolute in preparing the 2004 budget. Mrs Gill, thank you for your diplomatic negotiations on the sensitive issue of new posts. Mr Böge and Mr Colom i Naval, you showed great pragmatism in dealing with the negotiations on the adjustment of the multiannual programmes together with all this House’s specialised committees. Mrs Dührkop Dührkop, you rose superbly to the challenge of achieving a consensus on the subsidy programmes for institutions, which was a Herculean task. Above all, however, it was the outstanding leadership of the Committee Chairman, Mr Wynn, which made this all possible. Mr Wynn, you have ensured, over all these years, that the committee’s work has been prompt, objective, competent and sound. It has been a real pleasure working with you and your colleagues.
In short, the budget experts have acquitted themselves with honour in the run-up to enlargement and have created a real masterpiece at the end of this legislative term. Many thanks for the excellent cooperation.
On Thursday, this House will vote first of all on the budget for the 15 State EU, with a total of EUR 99 billion in commitments and EUR 95 billion in payments. This represents a decrease of 2.8% on the current budget plan. At the same time, we have already reached political agreement on the supplementary and amending budget to be adopted in March 2004, which will formally establish the financial resources for the enlargement countries, that is, an extra EUR 11 billion in commitments and EUR 5 billion in payments. Overall, the budget for 2004 will increase by just EUR 2.3 billion, and is therefore EUR 11 billion below the maximum amount for payments originally planned for next year in the Financial Perspective in Agenda 2000.
Next year, the national composition of staff across all the European institutions will change when the appointment of officials from the new Member States begins on 1 May. For example, the number of posts in the Council will increase by 286, in the Parliament by 355, and in the Court of Auditors by 133.
On behalf of the Commission, I would like to thank the Budgetary Authority for also recognising the Commission’s staffing requirements. I am especially grateful to Parliament for its efforts to secure the additional resources for the 780 new posts at the Commission. I am grateful that you have kept the reserve low, since the integration of new staff, the recruitment processes and of course – in particular – the tasks to be mastered in the wake of enlargement will pose a challenge to all the European institutions.
In this budgetary procedure, we have also set the figures for all multiannual funding programmes – from funding research to programmes for the environment and trans-European networks – for the new Member States. For research funding – let me quote a few figures – a total of EUR 4.8 billion will be available next year, of which EUR 500 million will be earmarked for the new Member States. EUR 138 billion will be allotted to the closure of nuclear power plants in the enlargement countries and more than EUR 770 million in total will be available to fund trans-European networks. These measures are essential to ensure that the benefits of the large internal market can be utilised to the full.
The European Union is taking on ever more responsibility in the world. This is clearly reflected in the European budget. I greatly welcome the fact that everyone involved has been successful in safeguarding the Union’s capacity to fulfil its responsibilities in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and in our cooperation in the Balkans. For the measures in Iraq, it has been agreed that the flexibility instrument will be used to provide the sum of EUR 95 million. This means that, by the end of 2004, we will meet in full the EUR 200 million pledged for reconstruction in Iraq. In my view, conditions will also improve as a result of Saddam Hussein’s arrest, enabling us to devote all our energies to helping the people of Iraq.
EUR 83 million are earmarked in the budget for Afghanistan. I would ask the House to reconsider the reserve here as the Commission intends to propose a comprehensive programme to restore law and order and support the war on drugs in Afghanistan. Given that the Loya Jirga is convening in Afghanistan at this very moment, these are important signals that we can send out through the adoption of the budget.
In the Common Foreign and Security Policy budget for 2004, resources are earmarked to fund the continuation of the EU Police Mission in Bosnia and the new Joint Action in Macedonia. The funds for the programmes for the Mediterranean region have also been substantially increased.
How will the budget develop in the coming years? For 2005 and 2006, the scope will in fact be very limited. We have the decisions for the new Member States, the setting of the figures for the multiannual programmes, and the provisions of Agenda 2000. As envisaged here, the expenditure for the enlarged Union will increase in the next two years while remaining within the agreed framework, namely 1.06%. The Commission will present its communication in January for the period after 2007. This will start the debate about priorities and the financial framework. At this juncture, let me reiterate one point which is self-evident: anyone who takes decisions must expect to have to foot the bill for these decisions sooner or later. In my view, we must all work together on realistic proposals."@en1
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