| 21/2/2017 | PRESS RELEASE |
Council sets its priorities for the 2018 EU budget | |
The Council adopted its guidelines for the 2018 EU budget, calling for a realistic budget that strikes the right balance between fiscal prudence and new investments conducive to growth and jobs. Next year's budget should provide adequate resources to effectively respond to the migration and security crises and to contribute to the political and economic stability in the EU's neighbouring countries.
Given budgetary constraints in several member states, the Council calls for the level of both commitments and payments to be kept under strict control and based on real needs. Sufficient margins should be left under the ceilings of the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 to allow the EU to react to unforeseen events.
The Council also emphasises the need to further rationalise the EU's administrative expenditure. All institutions, bodies and agencies are urged to reduce or freeze their administrative expenditure as much as possible and to request financing only for justified needs. The Council suggests that the European Court of Auditors evaluate how the EU institutions implemented the agreed 5% staff cut between 2013 and 2017.
The Council also welcomes that the backlog of unpaid bills has been phased out.
As far as the revenue side is concerned, the Council stresses the importance of precise forecasts to allow member states to assess as early as possible their expected contributions to the EU budget.
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