Thursday, 28 May
A snapshot of major budget achievements 2004-2009: shaping an EU budget for the future
The European Commission has today set out its record of achievement in advance of the European Parliament election. The European Commission has made the re-unified European Union work to the benefit of its citizens and has brought increased stability and prosperity to a Union of 27 Member States. It has responded decisively to the financial and economic crisis. It has implemented an integrated approach to fighting climate change and securing energy supply. The Commission has sought to shape globalisation so that it is inclusive, better regulated and reflects European values.
►Read the press release
►2004-2009 Commission's mandate report on the President's Barroso website
►For a snapshot of the main achievements under Commissioner Grybauskaité's Budget and Financial Programming portfolio read more here [pdf 131kb]
Sunday, 17 May
Commissioner Grybauskaite won in the first round of the Presidential election in Lithuania
Her functions as President begin July 12th. She will be leaving the European Commission shortly, once her successor has been nominated. President Barroso will be in contact with the Lithuanian authorities to discuss the nomination of her successor.
Wednesday, 29 April
EU budget 2010 targets recovery
The Commission today adopted a €139bn preliminary draft budget for 2010. Economic recovery is at the heart of next year’s spending and the proposal channels the biggest share of funds (45%) into growth and employment measures – a 3.2% rise on 2009 – to help restore competitiveness across the Union. Funds for major programmes linked to research and energy will increase by more than 12% and cash for cohesion policy will grow too, with the EU-12 set to receive 52% of cohesion and Structural Funds. All headings in the budget will see an increase, reaching a total of €138.6bn in commitments (1.18% of GNI) and €122.3bn in payments (1.04% of GNI).
► Read the press release
►Read more on DG Budget website
►Read the presentation on the EU Preliminary Draft Budget 2010 [pdf 299kb]
Friday, 17 April
President Barroso has accepted Commissioner Grybauskaite's request to withdraw from the work of the Commission during her Presidential campaign in Lithuania from 17 April till 18 May 2009 or, in the case of a second round, till 8 June 2009 . The President has asked Vice-President Siim Kallas to assume, during this period, the replacement of Commissioner Grybauskaite in the fields of Budget and Financial Programming.
Wednesday, 15 April
EU budget estimates spot on
In 2008, Member States' contributions to the European Union budget almost exactly matched agreed spending for the year. Commissioner Grybauskaite commented “consistently high levels of budget execution are helping ease the pressure on national finances”. She underlined the particular importance of tight budgetary management in difficult economic times.
► Read the press release
Friday, 20 March
Green light for €5bn EU budget investment in energy links, telecoms and farming projects (2009-2010)
EU leaders have agreed on an ambitious €5 billion investment plan for new gas and electricity infrastructure projects (€2.365 million), offshore energy (€565 million), carbon capture and storage (€1.050 million) as well as projects to develop broadband internet across Europe and manage new challenges in agriculture (€1.020 million). The proposed financing for 2009-2010 falls within the ceilings of the 2007-2013 EU budget financial framework and, once finalised, will be put to the European Parliament for final agreement before the parliamentary recess.
►See the European Council conclusions [pdf 113kb]
Monday, 16 March
Commissioner attends the GAERC
Commissioner participates in the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels.
Commissioner Grybauskaite calls upon the Council to achieve an agreement quickly, both on the list of energy projects and on the financial architecture for the 5bn€ package as Community contribution to the European Recovery Plan. The Commissioner also emphasised that a revision of the EU financial framework will be needed.
Tuesday, 10 February
Commissioner speaks at the ECOFIN Council
Commissioner Grybauskaite participates in ECOFIN Council meeting in Brussels to seek an agreement on the financial aspects of the proposals for increased support for energy projects, high-speed Internet and new challenges in agriculture granted from the EU budget, which the European Commission published on 28 January 2009.
► Watch the Commissioner's interview with Ebs [mpg 37 mb] [mp4 3,286 mb] [rm 1,48 mb]
Wednesday, 28 January
The Commission proposes € 5 billion new investment in energy and Internet broadband infrastructure in 2009-2010,
in support of the EU recovery plan.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the EU recovery plan endorsed by the European Council in December 2008, the European Commission has today presented proposals to invest in key energy and Internet broadband infrastructure projects. These will deliver a much needed stimulus to the EU economy in the short term, while at the same time targeting strategic goals such as energy security. All Member States will benefit from the package of measures
► Read the press release
Thursday, 18 December
EU Budget 2009: gearing up for economic recovery
In 2009, the biggest share of the EU budget – 45% or €60 billion - will go to research, innovation, employment and regional development programmes, combining short and longer-term measures to help Europe respond to the current economic crisis as quickly and effectively as possible. An 11% increase in research and a 22% increase in the EU's innovation programme will help boost competitiveness in difficult times as well as EU efforts to move to a low-carbon economy. Funds for agriculture remain stable, taking over 40% of EU cash, while spending on the environment and rural development will rise by 2.9%. Europe's role in the world will also see spending grow in 2009, including €0.6 billion for the €1 billion food facility to help developing countries respond to rising food prices.
Speaking after the European Parliament vote on the 2009 Budget in Strasbourg, Dalia Grybauskaitė, EU Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget said, "The 2009 budget will focus funding on innovation, employment and regional development across the EU-27. These are the precise areas that can kick start Europe into recovery mode and pull it out of today's difficult economic situation". She added "We need to respond to the current crisis but also to prepare for life afterwards, ensuring we spend on the right things, at the right time in the right way".
► Read the press release
Wednesday, 10 December
Commission to reopen financial framework to fund energy and broadband projects
Today the European Commission has proposed to revise the EU financial framework to source the €5 billion required by the Economic Recovery Plan ( IP/08/1771 ) for trans-European energy interconnections and broadband infrastructure investment. The money will help improve energy supply security and boost the number of faster internet connections in the EU-27. The proposal uses part of the financial margins available in the EU budget under agriculture for 2008 and 2009 and shifts them to the budget heading for Competitiveness for Growth and Employment in 2009 and 2010. This means using funds that would otherwise remain unspent, while staying within the overall ceiling of the EU budget. The proposal does not change the total amount set out in the 2007-2013 financial framework, nor does it compromise spending for agriculture. The next step is to reach an agreement with Council and European Parliament.
Dalia Grybauskaitė, EU Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget, called on Council and Parliament to endorse the proposal without delay: "Today's proposal is about creating a more competitive, low-carbon economy, putting a much needed €5 billion into European energy interconnections and faster internet, helping to boost economic recovery in the EU. I am confident that Council and the European Parliament will rise to the challenge and make the necessary funds available by the end of this year so that work on the ground can start as quickly as possible".
► Read the press release
