Meeting: Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Brussels, 13 November 2015 / Deal reached on 2016 EU budget

A meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council took place on 13 November 2015 in Brussels to prepare the negotiations with the European Parliament regarding the European Union's budget for 2016.

[The conciliation period between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the negotiations to adopt the General Budget for the EU for 2016 began on 29 October and was due to end of the 18 November 2015. On 9 November 2015 the Conciliation Committee held its first meeting on the 2016 EU budget. A second was planned for the 13 November 2015, to run concurrently with the EcoFin Council].

In a Press Release from the Council issued in the early hours of the 14 November 2015 it was said 'On 14 November 2015, the Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the EU budget for 2016. Meeting in the Conciliation Committee they agreed to set the total level of commitments at €155.00bn and of payments at €143.89bn'.

The Council and the Parliament now need to formally adopt the compromise. The Council was due to proceed to this final step on 24 November 2015 and the European Parliament on 25 November 2015.

ESO: Background information: Budget 2016: Parliament adds extra funds for migration and competitiveness http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-budget-2016-parliament-adds-extra-funds-for-migration-and-competitiveness/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 09.11.15: EU budget 2016: Council calls on EP to respect its commitments as conciliation talks start http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/11/09-eu-budget-2016-conciliation-talks/

European Commission: DG Budget: Library: Document: 2016 http://ec.europa.eu/budget/biblio/documents/2016/2016_en.cfm

Politico 12.11.15: Countdown to a budget deal http://www.politico.eu/article/countdown-to-a-budget-deal/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/824/15 (16.11.15): Deal reached on 2016 EU budget http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/11/14-deal-reached-eu-budget/

European Parliament: Press Release, 14.11.15: Budget 2016 deal: Parliament ensures more funding for refugees and jobs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151109IPR01734/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: IP/15/6093, 16.11.15: EU budget deal strengthens response to refugee crisis http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-6093_en.htm

Politico, 15.11.15: A grim conclusion to EU budget talks http://www.politico.eu/article/budget-eu-brussels-finance-european-parliament-2016/

---