The Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 – problem or solution?

by Dr. Magdalena Sapala

The Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 – problem or solution?

Draft of a Webinar discussion

The webinar will focus on presenting and explaining the main issues of the ongoing debate on the European Union Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014-2020. The state of play in the European Parliament and the Council negotiations will be also highlighted.  

The procedure for establishing the multiannual budgets, introduced in the EU in 1988, was to be a remedy to the growing difficulty in negotiating the annual budgets, the guarantee of fiscal discipline and the stable framework for important European long-term projects. It is evident however, that despite the use of this method, the negotiations of both - annual and multiannual budgets - are still very difficult. In recent years the problem has even worsened.

The negotiations of the new MFF beyond 2013 are even more difficult than usual because:

1.     The Treaty of Lisbon introduced a number of changes to the competencies of the EU, which have budgetary implications and create new expenditures

2.     The Treaty provides for an enhanced role for the Parliament in the procedure of adopting both multiannual and annual budgets

3.     An extremely difficult economic situation in Europe forces reductions in budgets and public expenditures. Thus savings and cuts are an important factor in the negotiations on the new MFF

Registration

Participation in the webinar costs 25€. Register!