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The comment was made on November 11, after a third fruitless effort to engage the Council of Ministers in budgetary negotiations within the official deadline. MEPs want the most urgent bills for 2014 to be settled before discussing the 2015 budget, but the Council has yet to agree even on the first budget top up, proposed by the European Commission as long ago as May.
"It is shocking that Council has devoted no time to discussing how outstanding bills for this year should be paid or how next year’s budget should look, given that citizens are increasingly disillusioned with how Europe manages its affairs. It has only discussed the GNI issue, which does not affect the budget," said Budgets Committee chair Jean Arthuis (ALDE, FR), referring to the outcome of Council's 7 November meeting.
"Parliament has a clear and transparent position and has been awaiting the Council’s response. Yet the Council has failed to take a stance and we have only three days left to conclude. This shows a lack of respect for EU citizens who are the final beneficiaries of the budget", he added.