The Balance of Power over the EU Budget: European Expenditure since the Lisbon Treaty

Abstract:

The rules that govern the EU’s annual budget procedure changed with the Lisbon Treaty. In this European Policy Analysis, the author, Giacomo Benedetto, argues that the Council thereby gained more power than did the European Parliament.

Furthermore, the budget has become more inflexible and the rules of the Lisbon Treaty have reduced the amounts available – whether earmarked for redistribution or for public goods like research and development – compared to what would have been the case under the previous rules.