Fifth Framework Programme budget agreed at ECU 14,960 million
Following the fourth formal meeting of the conciliation committee, held in Strasbourg on 17 November 1998, MEPs and the Council have finally broken the budget deadlock, which has seriously threatened the adoption and speedy implementation of the Fifth RTD Framework Programme. Parliament and the Commission have consistently called for a budget of ECU 16,300 million, while the Council agreed on a figure of only ECU 14,000 million. A total budget of ECU 14,960 million has finally been agreed between the two parties, of which ECU 13,700 million will be allocated to the RTD Framework Programme, and ECU 1,260 million to the EURATOM Framework Programme. The deadline for the compromise within the conciliation procedure was 25 November 1998, and yesterday's agreement, while still needing to be confirmed by the Parliament and the Council within a further six weeks, should mean that the RTD Programme can be adopted and the component specific programmes completed before the end of the year. Confirmation of the agreed budget will require an absolute majority of votes in the case of the Parliament and by unanimity in the Council. An agreement on the breakdown of spending was also reached for the two periods of the Programme. Of the total budget for the RTD Framework Programme, ECU 3,140 million is allocated for 1999 and ECU 10,560 million for 2000-2002. It was agreed that if the latter figure is not consistent with the financial perspective in force for 2000-2002, or if there is no financial perspective in force in those years, the Parliament and the Council shall set a new maximum overall amount and adjust activities accordingly. The Council shall adapt the amounts deemed necessary for the specific programmes so as to ensure their consistency with the new maximum overall amount. Pending these two decisions, the specific programmes shall not be implemented beyond the amount provided for the implementation of the programmes in 1999.