EU budget - own resources

The European Parliament temporary committee on the financial perspectives met today for the first time to discuss the post-2013 EU budget. The committee meeting signalled the European Parliament's resolve to pressure the European Commission to come forward with a proposal to create an own resources system for the EU budget. After the meeting, Green MEPs Bas Eickhout and Helga Truepel stated:

"We cannot continue with the unsatisfactory status quo as regards the financing of the EU budget. The dependence on member state treasuries imposes a stifling inflexibility on the EU budget. Only with a true system of own resources for the EU budget can this situation be resolved and it is welcome that a clear majority of MEPs are now in favour of this approach, which the Greens have long called for.

"Crucially, an own-resources system need and should not imply more financial burden for European citizens. A true own resources system would be revenue neutral and would provide much greater transparency over the EU and how it is run: a win-win situation for all."