Conciliation Committee takes first steps in negotiations on 2014 EU budget

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have begun conciliation talks on the 2014 EU budget.

During the first meeting of the Conciliation Committee, the institutions introduced their positions and identified key differences in their approaches. Issues regarding the 2013 EU budget were also discussed.

Algimantas Rimkūnas, Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Finance, who is in charge of the EU budget in the Lithuanian Council Presidency, said: “We share the same key priorities. The EU budget is one of the tools to promote growth and employment in Europe.”

The EU budget for the financial year 2014 will be the first annual budget under the new Multiannual Financial Framework. The Council’s position proposes that commitment appropriations make up some €142bn, and payment appropriations amount to €135bn. The European Parliament proposes to increase the commitment appropriations almost by €855m, and payment appropriations almost by €1.4bn.

The next meeting of the Conciliation Committee will take place on 11 November 2013, the same day as the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting. This meeting will be prepared by a trialogue on 7 November 2013.