Parliament committee rejects Council's budget agreement
The European Parliament's Budgets Committee has rejected the European Council's agreement on the EU budget for 2007 to 2013 in a draft resolution, claiming that it 'does not guarantee an EU budget enhancing prosperity, competitiveness, solidarity and cohesion'. A vote on the draft resolution will take place on 18 January. Although EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik welcomed the Council's agreement in December, he did also add that it was 'not everything we wanted'. Research is considered to be a key to competitiveness in Europe, and Mr Potocnik was therefore hoping to increase the research budget substantially for the next funding period. The resolution states that the Council's position does not enable the EU to 'face new challenges', and criticises Europe's Heads of State and Government for giving priority to national interests over the 'European dimension'. The agreement limits the EU to financing 'traditional policies with redistributive character', say MEPs. The Budgets Committee does add however that the Council position will enable 'constructive negotiations' between the Council and the Parliament. The presidents of the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council will agree on a procedure and timetable for negotiations on 18 January. The Commission is expected to present a proposal for a new inter-institutional agreement on 1 February.