24-11-2015

On 24 November 2015, the Council by unanimity approved the 2016 EU budget deal agreed by the Conciliation Committee on 14 November. If the agreement is also confirmed by the European Parliament on 25 November the EU budget for 2016 is adopted. 

The 2016 EU budget provides for €155.00 billion in total commitments. This leaves a margin of €2.3 billion under the expenditure ceiling of the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020, allowing the EU to react to unforeseen needs. The level of total payments is set at €143.89 billion. This is a 1.8% increase compared to the 2015 EU budget, taking into account the eight amending budgets.  

"Thanks to their excellent cooperation, the Council and the Parliament have ensured that the 2016 EU budget is part of the solution to the challenges that the European Union is currently facing. It provides the means to finance the EU's priorities and is evidence of the European solidarity and values", said Pierre Gramegna, minister for finance of Luxembourg and President of the Council.

The 2016 EU budget provides the European Union with the financial means to respond to the current needs and challenges. It makes available in particular more than €4 billion in commitments for helping member states and third countries to address the refugee crisis. The 2016 EU budget also significantly increases the resources for the fight against crime and theprotection against terrorist attacks. The internal security fund, which is designed to help implementing the EU's internal security strategy, law enforcement cooperation and the management of the EU's external borders increases by 64.0% in commitments and 46.7% in payments compared to the 2015 budget as adopted last year. 

Resources for research and other measures aimed at boosting growth increase by 8.3% in commitments and 10.8% in payments compared to 2015 to reach €19.01 billion and €17.41 billion respectively. The 2016 EU budget supports farmers with extraordinary measures amounting to €698.0 million to alleviate the impact of the Russian embargo on certain agricultural products and of the difficult situation in the dairy and pigmeat sector. The 2016 budget deal also includes a commitment from Parliament to reduce the number of posts in its establishment plan by 197 between 2016 and 2019. The Council, the Parliament and the Commission in December 2013 agreed to reduce their staff by 5% between 2013 and 2017.