Governments propose further cuts to 2014 EU budget

The EU Commission proposed a budget of €136.06bn for 2014, but the Council - which represents member states - has voted to cut this by €1.06bn.

This has generated some flak from the commission.

Presenting the Council's position on 10 September 2013, Lithuanian Finance Minister Algimantas Rimkunas said he supported a "realistic and balanced" budget.

He insisted that there were no "general and unjustified cuts" proposed, saying that all planned reductions were on the basis of "detailed analysis of operational expenditure".

However the Council's position was criticised by the EU's Budgets Commissioner, Janusz Lewandowski, who accused EU governments of "going their traditional way of cutting".

I only wish that were their traditional way, but there is more joy in heaven over a sinner who repents ...

MEPs are expected to reach their position on the budget by the end of October. If - as usually happens - there are differences between the Parliament and the Council's position, a three week "conciliation" period will commence, with a view to the budget being formally signed during the December plenary session.

There has also been discussion in the EU parliament of a so-called "amending budget" for 2013, with the European Commission saying an extra €3bn was needed to cover shortfalls in the current budget.

British Conservative MEP Marta Andreasen said that the need for amending budget was a "sign of failure, a failure to ensure that taxpayers' money is properly spent".

For more details see the BBC Democracy live website here.

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