Growth stressed in revised EU programme package
The European Commission adopted a revised package of EU programmes for the next financial framework 2007-2013 on 24 May, detailing funding for each programme and 31 proposals necessary for their implementation. Priority will be given to programmes seen to contribute to the EU's economic growth. This package reflects the financial adjustments and priorities agreed by the European Commission, Parliament and Council in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May. It includes 26 revised and 5 new proposals, covering a large number of EU programmes and policy areas, grouped under specific expenditure headings. The revised proposals are, the Commission says, consistent with the expenditure ceilings agreed in the new financial framework. 'Our challenge was to secure the modernisation and development of an enlarged Europe, within the funds available under the financial framework. New generation programmes designed to stimulate economic growth and employment were a clear priority for the Commission,' explained Commissioner Grybauskaite, EU Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget. Among the priority policy areas are the Seventh Framework Programmes (FP7), which has a budget of 54.6 billion euro, and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), earmarked for 3.6 billion euro. The package also refers to funding for the Worldwide satellite radio-navigation system, Galileo, which is shared between the private sector and the EU, the EU picking up 1 billion euro for 2007-2013, one third of the overall budget. By submitting the revised package quickly, the Commission says that the European Parliament and Council will have time to adopt all the programmes. The revised proposals should assist discussions already underway between the two institutions. The Commission says it is confident that all the proposals can be adopted by the end of 2006.