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The Council’s position amounts to a total of €164.1 billion in commitments and €148.2 billion in payments. This is an increase of 2.09% in commitments and 2.34% in payments compared to 2018.
Areas which receive increased support include research and innovation (Horizon 2020, +5.79%), youth exchanges (Erasmus+ programme, +10.37%), investments in infrastructure (Connecting Europe Facility, +26.46%), and environment and climate action (LIFE programme, +5.20%). More funds are also foreseen in the field of migration. This includes a strong boost to the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, which will receive €1.1 billion for migration management (+55.80%), as well as additional funding for the Central Mediterranean route and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey.
Compared to the draft 2019 budget presented by the Commission, the total commitments have been reduced by €1.6 billion and payments by €0.5 billion. The cuts have been proposed on the basis of a technical analysis and concern those budget lines where the Council considers that the Commission has over-estimated the actual needs. Administrative expenditure is among the areas where relatively significant reductions have been made. [...]