New general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2019
PURPOSE: general budget of the European Union for the 2019 financial year.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Definitive adoption (EU, Euratom) 2019/333 of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2019.
CONTENT: following the agreement between the Council and the European Parliament, the EU budget for 2019 was adopted.
The EU budget for 2019 amounts to EUR 165.8 billion in commitment appropriations (representing an increase of 3.2% compared to the 2018 budget as amended in recent months) and EUR 148.2 billion in payment appropriations (corresponding to an increase of 2.4% compared to the 2018 budget).
A margin of EUR 1.3 billion remains available under the ceilings of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to allow the EU to respond to unforeseen events and needs.
Priority to growth, employment and youth
Close to half of the funds – EUR 80.5 billion in commitments – will go towards boosting the European economy, employment and competitiveness:
- EUR 12.3 billion shall go to Horizon 2020 (+10% compared to 2018) – including EUR 194 million for a new European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking – and EUR 3.8 billion will support infrastructure networks through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF);
- a further EUR 57.2 billion via the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) will help narrow economic gaps, nationally as well as between Member States;
With regard to young people, it should be noted:
- a new impetus for Erasmus+, with EUR 2.8 billion for youth exchanges, representing an increase of 19.5% compared to 2018;
- an additional EUR 350 million via the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) to help young people who are looking for work in regions with high unemployment rates;
- increased opportunities to volunteer or work on projects through the European Solidarity Corps, for which support has more than tripled compared to 2018 (EUR 143 million).
European farmers will benefit from EUR 59 billion.
Migration and security management
Security shall be enhanced within and beyond the EU's borders through:
- the provision of additional resources for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Union Asylum Agency and other agencies working on border and visa issues. The Internal Security Fund shall receive EUR 534 million;
- the strengthening of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, with EUR 1.1 billion (+55.9% compared to 2018) allocated to migration management;
- a contribution of EUR 1.45 billion from the 2019 EU budget to the EU Refugee Facility in Turkey to provide Syrian refugees with assistance in key areas such as health care and schooling.
It is also important to note that the 2019 EU budget:
- strengthens action in favour of the environment and climate, by making available an amount of EUR 558 million under the LIFE programme, i.e. 6.7% more than in 2018;
- provides an additional amount of EUR 1.2 million for the European External Action Service to hire additional staff for strategic communications and the fight against misinformation.
Pre-accession funds for Turkey have been cut in relation to financial programming in view of the situation of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and freedom of the press in that country. The reduction in the 2019 budget amounts to EUR 146.7 million.
Commitment appropriations by MFF headings 2014-2020 (in EUR billion)
1. Smart and inclusive growth: 80.527 (+3.9%)
- Competitiveness for growth and employment: 23.335 (+6.1%)
- Economic, social and territorial cohesion: 57.192 (+3.0%)
2. Sustainable growth: natural resources: 59.642 (+0.7%)
- Market-related expenditure and direct aids: 43.192 (-0.1%)
3. Security and citizenship: 3,787 (+8.4%)
4. Global Europe: 11,319 (+12.4%)
5. Administration: 9.943 (+2.9%)
Other special instruments: 0.577 (-17.5%).
The budget is based on the principle that the United Kingdom, after its withdrawal scheduled for 30 March 2019, will continue to contribute and participate in the implementation of EU budgets until the end of 2020, as if it were still a Member State.