Memo: Statement by Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski on the EP’s vote on next year’s 2014 budget / Parliament reverses Council cuts in research and jobs expenditure

On 23 October 2013, the European Parliament reversed the Council's proposed cuts in research and employment expenditure in 2014 in a plenary vote in Strasbourg. MEPs also reversed cuts in funding for international policy, such as humanitarian aid to the Middle East and Syrian refugees and added funds for the external border control agency Frontex.

Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski welcomed the Parliament's vote, stating that the heads of states and governments constantly call for more work and investment at EU level in areas such as growth and jobs or science and research. For that reason, the Commission cannot, as proposed by the Council, cut those very same areas in the EU budget.

European Parliament: Press Release: Budget 2014: Parliament reverses Council cuts in research and jobs expenditure http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20131018IPR22651/

ESO: Background information: Council adopts position on 2014 EU budget http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-adopts-position-on-2014-eu-budget/

EurActiv, 24.10.13: MEPs reverse approved budget cuts for 2014 http://www.euractiv.com/priorities/meps-reverse-approved-budget-cut-news-531278

EUObserver, 24.10.13: MEPs agree 5 percent cuts in bid to break budget deadlock http://euobserver.com/news/121877

Council of the European Union: Press Release: PRES/13/438: Start of the conciliation talks on the EU budget 2014 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ecofin/139130.pdf

---