"We share the same key priorities. The EU budget is one of the tools to promote growth and employment in Europe," said Deputy Minister of Finance Algimantas Rimkūnas, in charge of the EU budget in the Lithuanian Presidency.
During the first meeting of the Conciliation Committee the institutions introduced their positions and identified key differences in their approaches. The issues related to the EU 2013 budget were also discussed.
The EU budget for the financial year 2014 will be the first annual budget under the new Multiannual Financial Framework. The Council's position proposes that commitment appropriations make up some 142 billion euros, and payment appropriations amount to 135 billion euros. As compared to the position of the Council, the European Parliament proposes to increase the commitment appropriations almost by 855 million euros, and the payment appropriations almost by 1.4 billion euros, accordingly.
The next meeting of the Conciliation Committee will take place on November 11, the same day as the ECOFIN (Budget) Council. This meeting will be prepared by a trilogue on November 7.
