The agreement on the 2020 EU budget

Kimmo Tiilikainen

Rome [ENA] On 18 November the Council of the EU and the European Parliament have reached, shortly before the deadline of the conciliation period, an agreement on the 2020 EU budget. The agreement focuses on growth and on risks associated with climate change. This concerns climate-related research projects and programmes such as the LIFE programme, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), financing infrastructure projects,

climate-related SME support but also in the areas of development cooperation, and in support of EU neighbours in the East and South. The 2020 budget is the last annual spending plan of the Union’s seven-year budget. Parliament has obtained in total €850 million for its priorities on top of what the Commission has proposed. And in the budget there are over €500 million for climate action on top of Commission's proposal and lawmakers and government officials from EU states agreed to spend €168.7 billion, of which 21% will go to climate. Total payments amount to €153.6 billion, a 3.4% increase from 2019. The deal has still to be formally endorsed by Council and Parliament.

This year, the negotiations for the 2020 budget were parallel to the negotiations of the EU’s next long-term budget for the period 2021-2027. Kimmo Tiilikainen, the Finnish Secretary of State and chief Council negotiator for the 2020 budget declared: “Next year’s budget strengthens support for the EU’s priority areas and best-performing programmes. It also ensures a realistic approach, taking into account the interests of taxpayers and the need to cater for new challenges that may arise in 2020. I would like to highlight in particular the move to further “green” the EU budget and ensure that it works in support of the EU’s climate agenda”.

The budget envisages some €60 billion support for farmers, fisheries and biodiversity and almost €59 billion to reduce economic differences between EU regions. Almost €25 billion will go to support research and innovation, youth education programs, small and medium businesses and Europe’s Galileo satellite scheme. Another €14 billion will finance EU security, humanitarian aid and the newly created European border guard. The Youth Employment Initiative will be increased with €23.8 million, including a joint statement by the Parliament, the Council and the Commission pledging that this will be topped up with €50 million in the summer of 2020 if the Commission confirms this is necessary.

In addition, the Erasmus+ exchange programme will be increased by €50 million. “We should now focus on a timely adoption of the next long-term budget so that we can provide certainty and stability for our beneficiaries and continue creating an EU added value for all”, said Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for budget and human resources. It’s important to highlight that around 93% of the EU’s budget goes to citizens, regions, cities, farmers and businesses. The EU's administrative expenses account for approximately 7% of the total.