ECOFIN (18 November 2011)

Tuesday 15th November 2011 Written Statements

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Mark Hoban)]

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council—Budget meeting will be held in Brussels on 18 November 2011. There is no provisional agenda at present. The following items are on the agenda:

Preparation of the Conciliation Committee meeting with the European Parliaments

The Council will aim to agree a final position on the draft budget for 2012, as part of negotiations with the European Parliament via a concurrent Conciliation Committee meeting. The Government will seek a final budget that delivers real budgetary restraint at EU level, supporting ongoing efforts to consolidate public finances across many member states, and that respects the principles of sound financial management.

As part of this process, the Government expect Ministers to be invited to discuss the Letter of amendment No. 2 to the preliminary draft budget for 2012, which handles mainly administrative costs relating to the expected accession of Croatia to the EU. The Government believe that these amendments should not increase the level of EU administrative expenditure.

Ministers are also expected to be invited to discuss Letter of amendment No. 3 to the preliminary draft budget for 2012, which concerns updates for estimated needs for agricultural expenditure and international fisheries agreements, reflecting changing market factors, revised estimates of needs for some direct payments, and legislative decisions this year, which are expected to affect this policy area next year. The Government are broadly supportive of these technical amendments.

Finally, Ministers may be invited to discuss this preliminary draft amending budget No. 6 for 2011, which would amend the 2011 EU budget to reflect latest implementation capacity and financial needs for the remainder of this year. The Government believe that any extra funding needs should be met fully via redeployments within existing budgets.

Outcome of the Conciliation Committee meeting with the European Parliaments

The Council will seek to agree to the outcome of the Conciliation Committee conciliation.

Any other business

At this time, the Government do not expect any issues to be raised under this agenda item.