College sets out options for an efficient EU and its future budget
Commission presents steps to make the EU i more efficient and sets out options for a new long-term EU budget - and their financial consequences
Ahead of a meeting of EU Leaders on 23 February 2018, the European Commission presented today a number of practical steps that could make the EU's work more efficient, and improve the connection between the leaders of the EU institutions and the citizens of Europe. The Commission has also set out various options for a new, long-term EU budget that delivers efficiently on its priorities after 2020 - and their financial consequences.
A more efficient Union
In his 2017 State of the Union Address, President Juncker said that the 2014 'lead candidate' experiment should continue. The 2014 election process strengthened the relationship between the three EU institutions and improved the efficiency of their work, helping them to align themselves around a common work programme. This is what enabled the Juncker Commission i to work in a more political manner and focus on the areas where the Union delivers the best results, leaving the rest to Member States.
Today, the European Commission is setting out how the election process can be improved, while respecting the balance between the EU institutions and among the Member States. This includes calling on political parties to make an earlier choice of the lead candidates, before the end of 2018, and for an earlier start to the campaign. This would give voters more opportunity to identify with the candidates and the political programmes they stand for. The European Commission is also recommending the link between national parties and European parties be made more visible, with national parties positioning themselves clearly on important European issues and expressing their intention for participating in political groups in the European Parliament and their choice for European Commission President.
Upon a proposal by the European Parliament, leaders in the European Council have to decide on the composition of the European Parliament for the 2019-2024 term, and what to do with the seats left vacant by the UK after Brexit. A number of Member States have recently expressed support for the idea of creating transnational lists, whereas others have expressed their disagreement. The European Parliament voted against the idea for 2019, but left the door open to future debate. The creation of transnational lists, requires the unanimous agreement of the Council, and changes to electoral law in all 27 Member States.
Finally, Before the next European Commission is appointed, leaders will have to decide whether to maintain one Commissioner from each Member State, or to make the Commission smaller.
A modernised long-term EU budget
Today's contribution from the Commission to the debate on the EU's long-term budget, seeks to help EU leaders ascertain what their policy choices and levels of ambition mean in terms of funding, in areas like protecting the EU's external borders, supporting a true European Defence Union, boosting Europe's digital transformation or making the EU's cohesion and agricultural policies more efficient. For example, if leaders agree to honor the frequently made pledge to improve the protection of the EU's external borders, this would cost €20 to 25 billion over seven years, and up to €150 billion for a full EU border management system.
The Commission is also setting out options to modernise the EU budget, including the possibility of strengthening the link between EU funding and the respect for the EU's fundamental values. It also sets out possibilities for strengthening the conditionality between the goals of the EU budget and the way it is funded.
The European Commission will table its formal proposal in the coming months, at the latest in early May.
Related links
Audiovisual Material
Photo report - College meeting
Photo report - Press Conference of President Juncker
Press Material
-
-
Meer over...