EC own resources
1994/2191(INI)
The object of this Commission report is to review the performance of the EU own resources
system, including the search for new own resources and the possibility of applying a fixed rate of
call for the VAT resource. It is also intended to examine the correction mechanism in favour of
the United Kingdom and the issue of contributions to the EU budget raised by several Member
States.
The report concludes by confirming the view put forward in Agenda 2000, that neither the need
for an increase in the financial resources of the Union, nor the limited shortcomings of the
financing system provide grounds to modify the own resources decision at an early stage. The
options presented in the report are interchangeable, can be completed and can be spread over
time. However, none of these options provides an ideal solution. If a consensus were to emerge
on the need to address the issue of budgetary imbalances of Germany, the Netherlands, Austria
and Sweden it would be necessary to choose between the options presented in the report or to
agree on a combination of them which would respect their logic. The three options are as follows:
- the first, concerning the financing side of the budget would be to move towards an own
resources system characterised by greater transparency and equity. This would encompass the
reduction or even the phasing out of the present correction mechanism;
- another possibility would be to introduce corrections on the expenditure side of the budget.
Such an option would involve the partial (75%) reimbursement of CAP direct aid paid to farmers
(possibility of sharing the amount of assistance in direct aids between the EU and the national
treasuries);
- finally, there is the option of a generalised correction mechanism for all Member States recording
a negative budgetary balance.
The timing of any change would depend on whether a modification of the own resources decision
would be required; enlargement would appear to present a change of circumstances which could
provide the opportunity for such a major structural change.
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