Detail akce

Financial framework for 2007-13 and its implications for R&D

Datum: 20.12.200514.1.2006

On December 17th, the Council of the European leaders agreed on a maximum EU budget of just over 862 billion euro for the period of the Union's next so-called Financial Perspective for 2007-13. This figure is 22 billion euro below the compromise proposed by the Luxembourg Presidency in June, and 273 billion less than the original Commission proposal in 2004. The compromise has been made possible mainly by the generosity of the German's new Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and a further concession of the British prime minister Tony Blair in the matter of the British rabatt.

 

Commitment

EC proposal

June Lux. proposal

5/12 British proposal

Agreed perspective

H.1: Sustainable growth

471

379

369

380

1a. Competitiveness for growth and employment

133

72

72

72

1b. Cohesion for growth and employment

339

307

297

308

H.2: Protection and management of natural resources

405

378

367

367

Of which agriculture: market expenses and direct payments

301

295

293

293

H.3: Citizenship, freedom, security and justice

25

11

10

10

H.4: EU as a global partner

95

50

50

50

H.5: Overheads

29

50

49

50

Commitments total

1025

871

847

862

Commitments in % GDP

1.24

1.06

1.03

1.045


In terms of its impact on EU research and development (R&D) activities, the compromise falls short of the doubling of the FP7 budget originally put forward by the Commission. However the final agreement, as proposed by the UK Presidency ahead of the Brussels summit, states that 'EU funding for research should [...] be increased such that by 2013 the resources available are 75 per cent higher in real terms than in 2006'. The Council also supported the Commission's proposal to establish a risk-sharing financing facility for R&D in cooperation with the European Investment bank, worth up to 10 billion euro.

 

The Financial perspective is now to be agreed upon by the European Parliament as well as by the Commission, bodies that both desider a much higher budget.

 

(info from Česká spořitelna and Cordis News)