EU budget 2013
No faux hysteria over EU budget proposals
The European Commission today outlined its proposals for the EU budget for 2013, including plans for a 2% increase in commitments and a 6.8% increase in payments (1). Commenting on the proposals, Green budgetary spokesperson Helga Trüpel (MEP, Germany) stated:
"Today's proposals will doubtless be greeted with faux hysteria in the context of the growing populist response to Europe from national politicians but, in reality, the Commission has proposed an EU budget for 2013 in line with inflation.
"The proposed 2% increase in commitments is relatively minimalist in the context of the growing competences and responsibilities of the EU, and is not beyond the inflation rate. The foreseen increase in 'payments' will naturally be latched on by populist opportunists but is necessary to ensure commitments made to EU member states in the context of multi-year programmes under the EU's funding period can be met. It is not, as will doubtless be claimed, some spending spree that is out of touch with the fiscal situation in EU member states.
“The EU budget is a key instrument for European investment and should be a central tool for stimulating economic recovery across Europe. Faux hysteria and populist straw men should not be allowed to divert attention from this. From a Green perspective, this means targeting funding to promote the sustainable transformation of the European economy, by prioritising investment in green technologies, which would help create millions of jobs.
"The Greens will work to ensure the Commission's proposals are adapted to better reflect this. In particular, this means ensuring a more favourable balance in spending on sustainable projects and technologies. For example, in the energy sector, ensuring renewables and energy efficiency are treated more favourably vis-a-vis nuclear energy and fossil fuels. In particular, the Greens oppose plans to pour more money down the black hole that is the ITER nuclear fusion project.”
(1) Commitments are pledges to pay, whereas payments are funds that can actually be paid out during 2013
