Debate on the European Budget: next EU budget will be more flexible

The distribution of European funds in the next budget period after 2020 is a leading topic of the meeting on 19^th of June of the presidents of the European Union's Parliamentary Committees on Community Affairs. The debate on the European Multi-annual Financial Framework started in the course of the Bulgarian Presidency and is expected to end before the European elections next year.

Although the speech of Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Donchev began with the words that it is critically early to say the amount of funding for each state in the next budget period, three things became clear during the discussion:

• The EU will reduce its funding in the next period by relying on national funds;
• due to increased national funds, the role of local control bodies will be increased at the expense of the Community control bodies;
• the next EU budget will be more flexible.

This means that every few years, re-assesment will be made on how the costs are spent, how effective this is and where possible, funds will be transferred from one item to another.

Dana Spinant, Director Communication, Budget and General Affairs at the European Commission's Directorate General Regional Policy: Larger part of the funds will continue to be allocated for the least developed regions and regions in transition. The targets for which the money will be spent will be less but clearer - the first one we want to achieve - a smarter Europe; the second is greener, more environmentally cleaner Europe; the third is safer Europe and the fifth is a Europe that is closer to the citizens.

Deputy Prime Minister Тomislav Donchev was certain that during the next budget period, funds will be provided only if reforms are made. The decisions of today's meeting are not legally binding, but are expected to end with a statement. The European budget for the period 2021-2027 is expected to be adopted in the spring of 2019.