European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
implementation of the EU budget
Thirty years of European territorial cooperation [Policy Podcast]
Established in 1990, the first European territorial cooperation initiative, Interreg I, focused on cross-border cooperation. Continue reading
Discharge procedure for the EU Budget: Political scrutiny of budgetary implementation
The European Commission is ultimately responsible for the execution of the European Union’s budget. However, the process also involves a range of other players, including Member States, to which the Commission delegates implementing tasks relating to a significant share of the budget. Continue reading
EU policies – Delivering for citizens: Future financing of EU policies [Policy Podcast]
The principle of subsidiarity means that the European Union (EU) should act where it can do so more effectively than its constituent Member States individually, and this also holds true in the area of public finance – the EU’s budget together with off-budget tools for financing EU policies. Continue reading
How the Budget is spent: Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) – is the successor to seven previous framework programmes. With a budget of over €70 billion, it is unique in the world, not only in terms of budget, but also duration and scope. Continue reading
The EU’s new approach to funding peace and security [EU Legislation in Progress]
The link between security, peace and development is recognised by both security and development communities. However, the practical implications of this nexus still pose challenges – especially in the light of a rapidly evolving security environment. Continue reading
Revision of EU financial rules [EU Legislation in Progress]
In September 2016, the Commission tabled a proposal for a new Financial Regulation which would replace the current one (together with its Rules of Application), as well as amend 15 other sectoral instruments each containing financial rules. The Commission justifies its proposal by the need to simplify EU financial rules and make them more flexible. Continue reading
EU support for social entrepreneurs [Policy Podcast]
Written by Agnieszka Widuto, Social enterprises combine social goals with entrepreneurial activity. They represent a business model focused on having a positive social or environmental impact rather than simply making profit for shareholders. Social enterprises make a valuable contribution to the economy and society, operating mainly in local communities and covering areas such as education, … Continue reading
How the EU budget is spent: Rights, Equality and Citizenship
Written by Gianluca Sgueo, With a financial envelope of nearly €440 million for the period 2014-2020, four main financing actions and nine specific objectives, the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (RECP) is a European Union (EU) funding programme aiming to protect equality and the rights of persons, as enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of … Continue reading
How the EU budget is spent: Connecting Europe Facility
Written by Matthew Parry, Marketa Pape and Alex Wilson The European Commission estimates that some €970 billion should be invested in trans-European (TEN) transport, telecommunications and energy network infrastructure by 2020 if Europe is to reach its full potential in terms of growth and cohesion. The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is designed to contribute to this objective, … Continue reading
Cohesion Policy implementation in the EU28
Written by Sorina Ionescu and Christian Dietrich EU Regional Policy is an investment policy. Via various funding programmes, it supports job creation, competitiveness, economic growth, improved quality of life and sustainable development. These investments contribute to the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy. Regional policy also aims to reduce the economic, social and territorial disparities between … Continue reading
How the EU budget is spent: the European Structural and Investment Funds
Written by Magdalena Sapała Although the EU budget is small in relation to the EU’s collective gross national income, it is a powerful source of investment. In the period 2014-20, almost 42% of planned spending (approximately €453.2 billion) will be channelled to the regions to enhance their economic, social and territorial development through five EU Structural … Continue reading
Annual revision of national contributions to the EU budget
Written by Alessandro D’Alfonso The annual adjustment of the financing of the EU budget is now in the spotlight. In 2013, around three quarters of the total revenue (€149.5 billion) came from a resource linked to the gross national income (GNI) of EU countries. A resource based on value added tax (VAT) provides another 10% … Continue reading
How the EU budget is financed – The “own resources” system and the debate on its reform
The system of “own resources” ensures the EU is able to finance its policies. In 2012, total EU revenue amounted to €139.5 billion. Successive reforms have determined the system’s current configuration, which relies on three key streams of revenue: traditional own resources (mainly customs duties); a resource based on value added tax (VAT); and a resource related to Member … Continue reading
The Development Cooperation Instrument
In December 2013, the European Parliament (EP) approved the compromise text agreed in trilogue on a new Regulation on the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), the EU’s major financial instrument for development cooperation in the 2014-20 period. The Council is expected shortly to approve the text in its turn, ensuring adoption of the legislative act at … Continue reading
EU budget for growth and employment – In Focus
The EU has recently set its budgetary priorities for the next seven years, adopting the 2014-20 Multiannual Framework Programme (MFF). Two briefings present the key points of the agreement and its flexibility provisions allowing some additional room for maneuver in multi-year planning to promote growth and to fight unemployment. Overall, the 2014-20 MFF allocates up … Continue reading
The MFF 2014-2020: how much can the EU budget contribute to growth and employment?
Corresponding to around 1% of the EU’s gross national income (or 2% of public spending in the EU), the EU budget is considered small in size by many analysts and its impact on the economy of the EU is debated. However, the role that the EU budget can play in economic recovery should not be underestimated. … Continue reading
2014-20 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)
6 language versions available in PDF format Mehrjähriger Finanzrahmen 2014–2020 (MFR) El Marco Financiero Plurianual (MFP) 2014-2020 Le cadre financier pluriannuel (CFP) 2014-2020 Il quadro finanziario pluriennale (QFP) 2014-2020 Wieloletnie ramy finansowe (WRF) na lata 2014 2020 2014-20 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) Setting the maximum allocation of resources for each major category (“heading”) of EU … Continue reading
Report on protection of EU’s financial interests
In 2011, Member States reported fraudulent irregularities against the EU budget with a financial impact of €404 million. A number of legislative initiatives are currently under way to strengthen the fight against fraud and other illegal activities affecting the EU’s financial interests. This is in part due to the Lisbon Treaty, which reinforced the EU’s … Continue reading
Download the EPRS App
