2008 budget: orientations, other sections

The Council took note of the presentation of the Commission's preliminary draft of the EU's general budget for 2008.

It asked COREPER to examine the draft with a view to enabling the Council to establish a draft budget at first reading at its meeting on 13 July.

The 2008 budgetary procedure will be the second under the EU's financial framework for the 2007-2013 period. At its meeting on 27 March, the Council established guidelines to be used by the presidency as the basis for this year's negotiations with the Parliament.

In its preliminary draft budget for 2008, the Commission proposes a total of EUR 129.2 billion in commitment appropriations (+ 2% compared with 2007) and EUR 121.6 billion in payment appropriations (+ 5.3% compared with 2007).

Commitment appropriations amount to 1.03% of EU gross national income and payment appropriations represent 0.97% of GNI.