Hadjipantela presents EU budget committee plan reversing Council cuts

Nicosia, Cyprus. Cypriot MEP Michalis Hadjipantela on Tuesday presented the European Parliament budget committee’s (Budg) proposal for next year’s EU general budget, restoring every reduction adopted by the Council of the EU in its July position.

Higher spending than Council and Commission proposals

The committee’s plan provides for commitments totalling €194 billion and actual payments of €203.3 billion during the year. Its proposed spending exceeds both the Council’s position and the European Commission’s proposal.

Budg voted for an additional €1.17 billion compared with the Commission’s plan. This includes €260.5 million more for the Connecting Europe facility, an EU infrastructure investment funding instrument that was also used to offer grants for the Great Sea Interconnector.

Agricultural allocations include another €85 million for the European agriculture guarantee fund, which provides direct payments to farmers, alongside €20 million in additional support for young farmers.

The proposal also raises funding for the EU’s neighbourhood policy by €140 million. That policy provides financing and partnerships to countries across eastern Europe and north Africa.

Hadjipantela calls for savings without undermining institutions

Hadjipantela, a member of Disy, said increasing security challenges made it necessary to give EU institutions sufficient resources to perform their duties effectively and independently.

He described budgetary discipline as essential, saying European taxpayers expected responsible stewardship of public money, efficient operations and the avoidance of needless expenditure.

Every institution should seek savings and improve its working practices, he said, adding that the European Parliament also needed to keep improving its budget management and spending.

However, Hadjipantela cautioned against treating efficiency as a reason to reduce funding without considering institutional responsibilities. He said reductions should not cause operational difficulties or result in greater costs later, stressing the need for a balanced approach.