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European Parliament
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2011 general budget: all sections, second version

2010/2290(BUD)

The European Parliament adopted by 508 votes to 141, with 19 abstentions, a resolution aiming to definitively approve the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2011, all sections, as modified by the Council (all sections).

Parliament is of the opinion that, although the draft budget as modified by Council does not entirely meet the real need for a sustainable, coherent and efficient Union budget, Parliament's objective is to provide the Union with a budget that can be fully and predictably implemented from the beginning of the financial year.

Necessary reform of own resources: Parliament considers the way the EU system of own resources has evolved, gradually being replaced by national contributions and consequently being perceived as an excessive burden on national public finances, renders its reform more necessary than ever. It reiterates nevertheless the importance of the Commission presenting by 1 July 2011 substantive proposals for new own resources for the EU, based on Article 311 TFEU. It also calls for a commitment by the Council to discuss these proposals with Parliament within the negotiating process for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF).

Reserves: Parliament considers some reserves on appropriations to be necessary to help the Commission to improve transparency of information and implementation of appropriations under Section III of the budget.

In parallel, Parliament approved the joint statement on payment appropriations as set out in the Council draft budget (please refer to the summary dated 10 December 2010). The European Parliament and the Council urge the Commission to present by the end of September 2011 at the latest updated figures concerning the state of play and estimates regarding payment appropriations under sub-heading 1b and under heading 2, and, if necessary, to present a draft amending budget for this sole purpose.

They will take position on any draft amending budget as quickly as possible in order to avoid any shortfall in payment appropriations.

Regarding the overall figures, MEPs accepted the levels proposed in the Commission's draft budget of 26 November 2010:

  • EUR 141.8 billion in commitment appropriations;
  • EUR 126.5 billion in payments.

The 2011 budget, as adopted by the full Parliament, includes more funding for the priorities set out by MEPs, including youth, innovation, the Middle East peace process and Palestine. Some examples include:

  • Competitiveness for growth and employment (heading 1a): MEPs won more money for the Lifelong Learning Programme (+ EUR 18 million), the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (+ EUR 10 million) and Intelligent Energy — Europe programme (+ EUR 10 million);
  • Cohesion for growth and employment (heading 1b): MEPs added a new line, worth + EUR 2.5 million, for the Baltic Sea strategy;
  • Preservation and management of natural resources (heading 2): MEPs increased the environment programme Life+ by + EUR 6.7 million and support for the management of fishery resources by + EUR 2 million;
  • Freedom, security and justice (heading 3a): MEPs won + EUR 2.35 million for the Daphne programme for the fight against violence against women and children and + EUR 1 million for prevention of terrorism;
  • Citizenship (heading 3b): MEPs obtained + EUR 4 million to support the World Special Olympics in Athens and + EUR 3 million to the Youth in Action programme;
  • The EU as a global partner (heading 4): an extra amount of + EUR 100 million for Palestine, the peace process and UNRWA (through the Flexibility Instrument).