The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Greg Clark)
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council—Budget will be held in Brussels on 9 November 2012. The following items are on the agenda to be discussed (as of 7 November 2012):
Preparation of the meeting of the Conciliation Committee with the European Parliament
The Council will aim to agree a final position on the draft budget for 2013, 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. 1 to the Preliminary Draft Budget for 2013, which concerns an overall reduction for the estimated funding needs for agricultural expenditure and international fisheries agreements. The Government are supportive of these technical amendments.
Ministers are also expected to be invited to discuss the Draft Amending Budget No. 5 for 2012, which would amend the 2012 budget to reflect the mobilisation of the EU solidarity fund, relating to a series of earthquakes in Italy in May 2012. The Government believe that any extra funding needs should be met fully via re-deployments within existing budgets.
Finally, Ministers may be invited to discuss this Preliminary Draft Amending Budget No. 6 for 2012, which would amend the 2012 EU budget to cover additional funding needs for structural and cohesion funds, rural development and research programmes. In addition, Draft Amending Budget No. 6 includes changes to the estimates of own resources and documents increased revenues from fines. The Government believe that any extra funding needs should be met fully via re-deployments within existing budgets.
Results of the meeting of the Conciliation Committee with the European Parliament
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.