92001E3504

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3504/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Statements by the Commissioner responsible for the budget concerning the level of Union budgets after 2007 and the future of the Structural Funds for the current Objective 1 regions

In statements made to a Spanish newspaper, the Commissioner responsible for the budget, Michaele Schreyer, underlined her position regarding the point at which decisions should be taken on the appropriations to be allocated to the current Objective 1 regions, including my own region, Galicia, by saying that it is too early to make any forecasts on the future economic situation in Andalusia. However, the Commissioner did not display the same reticence in defining the upper limits for the Community budget in the coming years, even going so far as to claim, looking ahead to the end of the current programming period, which runs until 2006, that she could say very clearly that, even after enlargement, the budget would remain below the maximum ceiling

of 1,27 % of Union GDP. What is the significance of the Commissioner's remarks? How can she venture to make such a budget forecast when her mandate will end with the current parliamentary term in 2004? Why is she so cautious when it comes to defining the Structural Funds for the end of this programming period but so determined on the subject of the level of a Union budget which has yet to be debated by society and the European institutions and which will definitely have to be increased in order to guarantee the very existence of a political and social Europe?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2002)

The budget Commissioner's interview with the Spanish daily El País on 30 November 2001 refers to decisions taken by the Heads of State or Government at the Berlin European Council on 24 and 25 March 1999. The 2000-2006 financial perspective adopted at that Council allows scope for admitting six new Member States in 2002 by creating a specific heading with annual appropriations rising from 6,45 billion in 2002 to 16,78 billion in 2006.

The recent Laeken European Council on 14 and 15 December 2001 confirmed that ten applicant countries will be able to join in 2004, provided that the current pace of negotiations and of reforms in those countries is maintained. On 30 January 2002 the Commission adopted a financial framework for enlargement which will fall within the limits set in Berlin for the new Member States until 2006.

In accordance with the provisions adopted in Berlin, the current Community budget which includes the specific heading for the new Member States does not use up the limit of 1,27 % of Community gross domestic product.

The Commission proposal for the financial perspective after 2006 will be presented in time for the necessary decisions to be taken sufficiently in advance of the end of the current financial perspective.