2015 general budget: all sections

The Council took note of the presentation by the Commission of its draft for the EU's general budget for 2015. It held an exchange of views.

The Council asked the Permanent Representatives Committee to examine the draft, to enable it to establish its position.

The Commission's draft provides for:

• payments totalling EUR 142.1 billion (+ 4.9% compared with the 2014 budget) and
• commitments amounting to EUR145.6 billion (+ 2.1%).

On 18 February 2014, the Council set out its priorities for the 2015 budget. These will be used by the Italian presidency as the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament and the Commission later in the year.

The Council is expected to adopt its position on the draft budget in September 2014, and the Parliament in late October. If their positions diverge, a three-week conciliation process will start on 28 October 2014.