The Council's main objective is to ensure that the limited financial resources available are directed towards the EU's top priorities. These are measures to address the migration crisis and its root causes, and actions to boost Europe's economy and create jobs.
Top priorities
The Council accepted all the figures put forward by the Commission for tackling the migration crisis. Heading 3 (security and citizenship) therefore benefits from an increase of 4.9% in commitments and 24.4% in payments compared to 2016. The Council also approved the figures proposed by the Commission within heading 4 (global Europe) for migration-related measures, such as the fight against the root causes of migration. The Council also agreed to the figures for humanitarian aid.
To help boost economic growth and create new jobs the Council approved an increase in the resources available under sub-heading 1a (competitiveness for growth and jobs) by almost 9% in both commitments and payments compared to 2016. This covers instruments such as the European fund for strategic investments, the EU programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and Erasmus +.
Cautious reductions
Aside from these top priorities the Council identified a number of areas where it reduced the increases proposed by the Commission. This is particularly the case for budget lines where, on the basis of a technical analysis, the Council concluded that the Commission has over-estimated the actual needs. However those programmes which are performing well or starting to deliver are generally protected.
The Council also scrutinized very carefully all administrative expenditure. It called on the other EU institutions to make every effort to reduce their staff by 5% by 2017 as agreed in 2013. [...]
Full press release
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