Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2010-12-14-Speech-2-472"
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"en.20101214.36.2-472"2
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"Mr President, I welcome, on behalf of the Commission, the fact that Parliament is willing to vote on the 2011 budget, even if not all the elements of the original package – comprising a Multiannual Financial Framework regulation, a new interinstitutional agreement and also financing of ITER – have been finalised.
What remains is also the adjustment, the transposition of the Lisbon Treaty in the form of the Multiannual Financial Framework and the new interinstitutional agreement. I have to praise the efforts of the budgetary rapporteur, Reimer Böge, and Minister Wathelet to find agreement in this very area, involving also a degree of flexibility. That is right. I can hear in Parliament, in the discussion, that this is more limited than the current system, but this is a compromise that is really guaranteeing, in practice, the same level of flexibility that was applied until now. Therefore, it seems to be acceptable in this time of fiscal consolidation in the Member States.
We have to pursue our efforts in the transposition of the Lisbon Treaty via the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework and the new interinstitutional agreement as otherwise, with stalemate and delay in these areas, we are in uncharted territory, not on solid ground when it relates to the legal conditions of our attempts for the future.
This was the Lisbon Treaty tested in practice. This was not demonstrated as originally designed, as facilitating compromise and decision making, but I hope that we can draw conclusions from the experience and, anticipating the vote in Parliament, we have already started the preparations for the 2012 budget. This is a sign of our optimism. I thank all those involved in the compromise machinery over the 2011 annual budget, Alain Lamassoure, President Buzek, Minister Wathelet and the rapporteurs.
By voting, the two arms of the budgetary authority demonstrate a sense of responsibility in avoiding a budgetary crisis at a time when Europe is facing severe challenges and when we face financial instability in several Member States.
I have to stress the importance of Parliament voting in the same way as was voted in the Council, namely, to avoid further conciliation. The Council has taken steps to include Parliament’s wishes in preparatory actions, pilots, reserves and budgetary remarks. I think this – to vote in the same way and avoid further delays in time – is a test of the will we have to deliver the budget, to deliver the means to European citizens to implement projects and the programmes that could and should be conducive to growth in jobs.
In terms of commitments, the level to be voted is EUR 141.8 billion, corresponding to 1.13% of GNI, with, I think, major priorities of Parliament taken on board relating to youth, small and medium-sized enterprises and research in headings 1a and 3b, and to Palestine in heading 4.
To achieve these goals, we need to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to the value of EUR 105 million. The payments are set at the level of EUR 126.5 billion, corresponding to 1.01% of GNI. That is the understanding of the budgetary constraints that the Member States currently face.
The level of payments is set under the condition – which is very important for the Commission – that they agree on a joint statement submitted to act swiftly if needed to provide additional payment appropriations through transfers or amending budgets, in order to avoid any shortfall in payment appropriations.
Of course, in the case of reserves, probably to be voted, I have to reiterate the position of the Commission and we are, of course, striving to respond to the conditions set by Parliament as early as possible.
It is very important to have a budget in place, so that we can carry on the discussions in the other areas without the additional complication of working under provisional twelfths. This is really very important.
What remains is the financing of ITER, and what is connected with the financing of ITER is the international credibility of a united Europe as a partner for global scientific and technological projects. If we fail to agree – and this is the last moment to agree – we lose around EUR 570 million of the 2010 margins and therefore also lose the field of manoeuvre in the 2011 margin. So I think voting and agreeing ITER should be a win-win situation for all of us."@en1
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