Final adoption of 2018 EU Budget

Further information:

The preliminary figures showed €160.1 billion in commitment appropriations and €144.7 billion billion in payment appropriations.

The agreed budget proposal was seen as translating into action the main priorities put forward by the European Commission for its activity: creation of jobs, growth and investment, security, convergence and facing the challenges of migration.

The European Parliament included in the proposed document a set of cuts in pre-accession funds to Turkey by €105 million due to the deterioration of the country's democracy, rule of law and human rights.

Media reports highlighted the abstention of the Socialists&Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament, signalling a shift in their cooperative approach with the European People's Party (EPP) and perhaps the start of a strategy leading up to the 2019 European elections.

The Council's endorsement was formally undertaken at a meeting of the Competitiveness Council.

Background information:

The initial proposal was adopted by the European Commission in May 2017, which included a budget of €160.6 billion. The Council of the European Union formally adopted its position on 4 September, while the European Parliament approved its position on 25 October. While the former suggested a figure €1.7 billion lower than the original proposal, the latter wanted to add €2 billion to that figure to increase infrastructure and research spending.

Differences between the positions of the two institutions are addressed in a negotiation process known as the 'conciliation procedure', which started on 31 October. A compromise on a final formula for the annual budget was reached on 30 November.

This budget would also be the last one with the United Kingdom as full member of the European Union for the whole year.

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament separately approved the result of the negotiations on the 2018 EU budget.

VoteWatch Europe: S&D moves closer to an opposition role by rejecting the EU budget for 2018 http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/unprecedented-sd-moves-closer-to-an-opposition-role-by-rejecting-the-eu-budget-for-2018/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 30.11.17: 2018 EU budget adopted http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/11/30/2018-eu-budget-adopted/

European Parliament: Press Release, 30.11.17: EU budget 2018 approved: support for youth, growth, security http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20171127IPR88936/

EurActiv, 01.12.17: EU budget 2018 finally adopted, socialists abstain https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-priorities-2020/news/eu-budget-2018-finally-adopted-socialists-abstain/

Politico, 30.11.17: MEPs pass 2018 budget — without Socialists and Democrats https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-2018-budget-without-socialists-and-democrats/

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