Документи - Think Tank - Европейски парламент

Briefing - Participatory budgeting: A pathway to inclusive and transparent governance - 26-09-2024

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Across the world and especially in developed countries, there has been a decline in trust in democratic institutions, an increase in political discontent and citizen dissatisfaction, and a resulting decrease in voter turnout. Economic crises, climate disruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic have only exacerbated these sentiments. In the late 1980s, participatory budgeting – an approach that allows citizens to directly engage in budgetary decisions – emerged as one of the most promising solutions to this global democratic malaise. By involving citizens in the allocation of public funds, this approach enhances public trust and accountability in governance. It is best described as a co-production process that not only allows citizens and professionals to cooperate and deliberate but also counters populist narratives and educates younger generations on resource prioritisation. Broad public involvement and deliberation are the rule, with the aim being to make budgetary processes inclusive, transparent and democratic. What makes participatory budgeting different from other participatory methods is its focus on financial processes, openness to the public, cyclical nature, reliance on public deliberation and accountability. It is applied in thousands of towns, cities and regions across the world and enjoys the support of governments, civil society and international organisations. It addresses both socio-economic and democratic goals and seeks to enhance public infrastructure and services while promoting political equality and transparency. This democratic innovation allows citizens to shape the space in which they live. Additionally, it reconfigures public governance by redefining the roles and relationships of citizens, civil servants and politicians. It is particularly effective in local governance, but also has a growing application in communities, in schools, community groups and even prisons, for instance. Some of the challenges facing public budgeting include limited participation of marginalised groups, the risk of co-optation by political interests and difficulties in implementation. However, its potential to revitalise democratic engagement and foster inclusive governance makes participatory budgeting a crucial tool in addressing some of the issues that are currently eroding the global democratic order. This briefing updates a 2016 briefing by Gianluca Sgueo.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2024 - ЕП

Накратко - Pilot projects and preparatory actions in the EU's annual budgetary procedure - 17-07-2024

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Pilot projects and preparatory actions (PPs and PAs) are tools in the EU budget designed to test new policy initiatives or prepare the ground for the adoption of future programmes. PPs and PAs give Members of the European �Ϸ��վ (MEPs) the possibility to initiate innovative policies and fund them before a legal act has been adopted. The financing of both new PPs and PAs and those continued from previous years must be included in the EU budget under the annual budgetary procedure.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2024 - ЕП

Накратко - Revision of the EU's long-term budget: State of play ahead of the 1 February European Council meeting - 29-01-2024

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 23:00:00 GMT

Having failed to agree on the revision of the EU's 2021-2027 budget at the December European Council meeting, Member States will attempt to break the impasse at an extraordinary meeting on 1 February 2024.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2024 - ЕП

Проучване - Gender responsive budgeting: Implications for the budget of the European �Ϸ��վ - 26-10-2023

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:56:54 GMT

�Ϸ��վ is one of the key advocates of gender mainstreaming – including gender responsive budgeting (GRB) – in the European Union and its Member States. In addition, it has made significant efforts to implement gender mainstreaming in its own political, administrative and procedural processes. However, despite the commitments made at both political and administrative level, the principles of gender responsive budgeting are not yet fully reflected in the European �Ϸ��վ's budget. Moreover, none of the EU institutions currently apply GRB tools to their own administrative budget. Offering an overview of gender responsive budgeting, its rationale, tools and progress made to implement it in the budget of the European Union, this study looks at how the approach could be designed and implemented with specific reference to the internal budget of the European �Ϸ��վ. With a view to advancing gender equality in the internal finances of the European �Ϸ��վ, the authors give examples of entry points for application of GRB tools and techniques in the budgetary cycle and processes. The study is also intended to feed into the ongoing reflection on promoting GRB in the other EU institutions and more broadly.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2023 - ЕП

Briefing - Own resources of the European Union: Reforming the EU's financing system - 09-06-2021

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 22:00:00 GMT

On 1 June 2021, the decision that reforms the financing system of the EU budget entered into force, following its ratification by all Member States. It introduces three significant innovations in the own resources system, applying retroactively from 1 January 2021. The maximum level of resources that can be called from Member States permanently rises from 1.20 % to 1.40 % of EU gross national income (GNI). A temporary increase in the own resources ceiling, worth a further 0.60 % of EU GNI, is devoted exclusively to the financing of Next Generation (NGEU), enabling the Commission to borrow resources on an unprecedented scale on the capital markets, with a view to financing the recovery. A national contribution linked to non-recycled plastic packaging waste is introduced, the first new EU own resource to be created since 1988. In addition, �Ϸ��վ pushed for a broader reform of the financing system underlining that the introduction of a basket of new own resources should cover at least the repayment costs of NGEU (for both principal and interest). �Ϸ��վ managed to include a detailed roadmap for the introduction of various additional new own resources by 2026 in the interinstitutional agreement on budgetary matters with the Council and the European Commission. Envisaged resources are linked to EU policies on climate and the single market. Fourth edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2021 - ЕП

Проучване - Benefits and drawbacks of an “expenditure rule”, as well as of a "golden rule", in the EU fiscal framework - 01-09-2020

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Focusing the EU fiscal framework on an expenditure rule could help to increase transparency, compliance and ownership. In various other respects, like estimation errors or counter-cyclicality of prescribed fiscal policy, an expenditure rule is similar to a structural balance rule. If the EU decides to go beyond the current focus on fiscal aggregates, a two-rule system aimed at safeguarding specific expenditures could be placed at the centre of the EU fiscal framework. The key challenge is to define and measure the protected expenditures.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2020 - ЕП

Накратко - �Ϸ��վ's reading of the 2020 EU budget - 17-10-2019

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 15:59:32 GMT

During the October II plenary session, the European �Ϸ��վ is due to decide on amendments to the Council's position on the draft EU budget for 2020. The report of the Committee on Budgets reverses the cuts proposed by the Council, with the exception of funds for Turkey. Furthermore, it proposes a considerable increase in the contributions of the 2020 budget to the fight against climate change, and increases appropriations for a number of �Ϸ��վ's other priorities, to make 2020 a bridge to future EU policies and to provide European added value.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2019 - ЕП

Накратко - Pilot projects and preparatory actions in the annual EU budgetary procedure - 19-07-2019

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 11:27:01 GMT

Pilot projects and preparatory actions (PP/PAs) are tools introduced in the European Union (EU) budget that aim at testing new policy initiatives and/or preparing the ground for the adoption of future measures. Such PP/PAs give Members of the European �Ϸ��վ the possibility to initiate innovative policies and fund them in advance of a legal basis being set. Both new PP/PAs and those continued from previous years must be included in the EU budget through the annual budgetary procedure.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2019 - ЕП

Briefing - Annual EU budgetary procedure: An introduction to the steps in the EP - 19-07-2019

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 11:08:34 GMT

�Ϸ��վ (EP) and the Council are the budgetary authority of the European Union. The two institutions, assisted by the European Commission, decide on the budget in the annual EU budgetary procedure. The annual EU budget funds EU policies and programmes following the Union's political priorities and legal obligations. The financial year starts on 1 January and ends on 31 December. �Ϸ��վ amends the Council position through the work of its Committee on Budgets (BUDG) and the specialised parliamentary committees. The EP then adopts the �Ϸ��վ's reading in plenary session. This briefing presents possible scenarios set in the EU Treaties for adoption or non-adoption of the annual budget. It explains differences between the Treaty calendar and the 'pragmatic calendar'. The key actors in establishing the �Ϸ��վ's position are: the Committee on Budgets and EP specialised committees, in particular the BUDG chair, the annual budget rapporteurs and their shadows, BUDG coordinators and budget rapporteurs in specialised committees. An amendment to the Council's position is a tool enabling Members of the European �Ϸ��վ to modify the annual budget draft. This briefing sketches the life cycle of such an amendment. �Ϸ��վ and the Council work out an agreement on the annual budget through negotiations consisting of trilogue meetings and conciliation. Last but not least, this briefing explains what happens if there is no agreement on the EU annual budget.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2019 - ЕП

Накратко - Agreement on EU general budget for 2019 - 11-12-2018

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 16:30:48 GMT

After the failure of budgetary conciliation, the European Commission put forward a new draft budget for 2019. Based on the second draft budget and subsequent negotiations, the European �Ϸ��վ and Council have agreed the General Budget for the European Union for 2019, at a level of €165 795.6 million in commitments and €148 198.9 million in payment appropriations. This means an increase of 3.2 % in commitments and 2.4 % in payments as compared to 2018 budget. The �Ϸ��վ has scheduled the adoption of the agreement for the December 2018 plenary. Adoption of this agreement means, once signed by the �Ϸ��վ’s President, that the EU will be equipped with a budget as from 1 January 2019.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2018 - ЕП

Задълбочен анализ - 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework and new own resources: Analysis of the Commission's proposal - 26-07-2018

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 08:51:00 GMT

The process of negotiating a new seven-year financial plan for the EU has now begun formally with the Commission's publication of proposals for a 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and for a new system of own resources providing the revenue to pay for it. This analysis presents the proposed new MFF and own resources and compares them to the status quo, as well as to the European �Ϸ��վ's priorities as expressed in plenary resolutions adopted in spring 2018.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2018 - ЕП

Briefing - Post-2020 MFF and own resources: Ahead of the Commission's proposal - 27-04-2018

Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:05:49 GMT

On 2 May, the Commission is expected to publish proposals for a new multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the European Union for the years after 2020, as well as for a new system of own resources (OR) to provide the EU with the means to finance its annual budgets. The following day the proposals are to be presented to the �Ϸ��վ's Committee on Budgets (BUDG).The proposals are being published as a package, and will be followed by a series of further legislative proposals for individual spending programmes to appear later in May and in June. The next MFF and OR system will set the EU's priorities and determine much of its scope for action for a period of at least five years. The proposals are an opportunity for the Commission to respond to a set of longstanding issues concerning how the EU finances its priorities, and to new issues arising from a political landscape that has changed profoundly since 2013, when the EU last negotiated its multiannual budget plan. Chief among these are the twin pressures affecting both the revenue and spending sides of the budget: the loss of a major net contributor country in the departure from the EU of the United Kingdom; and growing pressure to respond to new challenges mainly linked to the refugee and migration crisis that erupted after the current MFF was put in place, as well as ongoing issues resulting from the financial and sovereign debt crises. The Commission's proposals for a new MFF and OR will also respond to the question of how big the EU budget should be. Currently subject to a political cap of 1 % of the EU's GNI, the EU budget is modest in comparison with the government budgets of the EU's Member States. Nevertheless, negotiations over whether to increase this cap will be politically fraught in a context where some Member States are under pressure to reduce national budget deficits. Other issues at stake in the negotiations are the flexibility, conditionalities, structure and duration of the next MFF, and the sensitive question of whether to increase the EU's financial autonomy by endowing it with new and significant own resources.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2018 - ЕП

Задълбочен анализ - Performance budgeting: A means to improve EU spending - 16-03-2018

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 08:37:44 GMT

In 2015, the European Commission launched an initiative entitled 'The EU budget focused on results'. It is aimed at changing spending culture and making results a horizontal priority for the EU budget. The initiative is based on a popular contemporary budgeting method known as 'performance budgeting'. This paper presents the method and its application to the EU budget. It explains why, although not easy to implement, performance budgeting is seen as an attractive way to increase value for money and enhance the transparency and democratic accountability of public finances. The paper also analyses how the performance budgeting approach has evolved within the EU budgetary system and what challenges and obstacles to its implementation remain. The commitment of the European Commission to the principles of performance budgeting, as well as the broad support for the idea expressed by the European �Ϸ��վ and the Council, give grounds to believe that these efforts will continue in the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2018 - ЕП

Накратко - Reform of the EU's system of own resources - 06-03-2018

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:03:07 GMT

In May 2018, the European Commission is expected to present a legislative package on what are known as 'own resources' – the sources of revenue for the EU budget – for the period after 2020, alongside proposals on a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). �Ϸ��վ has long pointed to shortcomings in the current system of own resources, and in anticipation of the Commission's proposals, the Committee on Budgets has drafted an own-initiative report on the �Ϸ��վ's priorities. That report is on the agenda of the March plenary session.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2018 - ЕП

Накратко - Post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework - 06-03-2018

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:53:59 GMT

In May 2018, the European Commission is expected to adopt a proposal on a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period after 2020, alongside proposals on the reform of the 'own resources' system. �Ϸ��վ's Committee on Budgets (BUDG) has adopted an own-initiative report on its position on the future MFF, together with one on reform of 'own resources'. Due to be debated during the March plenary session, the two texts will set out �Ϸ��վ’s perspective on both the revenue and expenditure sides of the EU budget, which it argues should be treated as a single package in the upcoming negotiations.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2018 - ЕП

Briefing - The European Council and the Multiannual Financial Framework - 21-02-2018

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 10:38:38 GMT

With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the MFF was for the first time given a legal basis in the EU Treaties and a new procedure was introduced for its adoption. The MFF is now laid down in a regulation adopted by the Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, once European �Ϸ��վ consent is obtained. The post-2020 MFF process will represent the second full application of this new procedure, following the negotiations on the MFF for 2014-2020. The Treaty of Lisbon also established the European Council as one of the seven institutions of the European Union and defined its role and powers. In accordance with Article 15(1) TEU, the European Council 'shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political directions and priorities thereof'. Moreover, the European Council 'shall not exercise legislative functions'. Notwithstanding this prohibition on the exercise of legislative functions, and despite the lack of a formal role assigned to it in the financial provisions of the Treaties (Articles 310 to 324 TFEU), the European Council – as was already the case prior to the Lisbon Treaty – played a central role in the 2014-2020 MFF negotiation. Acting on the basis of its competence to 'define the general political directions and priorities', the European Council adopted detailed conclusions on the MFF, which purported to define the MFF ceilings and the financial envelopes for all policy sectors for the seven-year MFF period. In its resolution of 15 April 2014 on the lessons to be learned from the 2014-2020 negotiations, the European �Ϸ��վ identified the impact of the European Council's involvement in the �Ϸ��վ's legislative prerogatives as a matter of particular concern. The aspects most often considered when assessing the MFF and its negotiation process are the overall size of the budget, own resources, national bargaining positions, and the tensions between net beneficiary and net contributor countries. To date, only limited attention has been paid to the role of the European Council. This Briefing analyses the European Council's involvement in the process of adopting the 2014-2020 MFF during the different negotiation phases and outlines the concerns expressed by the �Ϸ��վ in this respect. It also provides an indicative timeline and potential milestones for the post-2020 MFF negotiations and looks at the possible role of the European Council in this process, thereby attempting an initial assessment of possible similarities with and differences to the 2014-2020 MFF negotiations.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2018 - ЕП

Накратко - Conciliation agreement on the 2018 EU budget - 24-11-2017

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:33:47 GMT

On 18 November, European �Ϸ��վ and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the 2018 EU budget. The joint text, which provides for total commitments of €160.11 billion and total payments of €144.68 billion, is expected to be adopted by the Council and then voted on by the �Ϸ��վ during the November II plenary session.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2017 - ЕП

Проучване - Research for AGRI Committee - Implications of ‘Brexit’ for the EU agri-food sector and the CAP: budgetary, trade and institutional issues - 15-11-2017

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 23:00:00 GMT

This is the reference document of the Workshop on ‘The Implications of ‘Brexit’ for the EU agricultural sector and the CAP’ of 9th November 2017, organised by COMAGRI and the Policy Department B. The purpose of this Workshop was to examine and debate the main budgetary, trade and institutional issues related to the Brexit process at the current state of negotiations. This document is structured in three parts: 1. Possible impact of Brexit on the EU budget and, in particular, CAP funding. 2. EU - UK agricultural trade: state of play and possible impacts of Brexit. 3. Possible transitional arrangements related to agriculture in the light of the future EU - UK relationship: institutional issues.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2017 - ЕП

Проучване - Research for AGRI Committee - Possible transitional arrangements related to agriculture in the light of the future EU - UK relationship: institutional issues - 16-10-2017

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 22:00:00 GMT

There is the potential for severe disruption of agri-food trade between the UK and the EU27 as the UK prepares to leave the EU. This study reviews the additional trade costs that might arise and how they might be avoided under alternative future trade arrangements. The role of a transitional period in order to avoid a ‘cliff-edge’ for trade is examined. Options under the Common Agricultural Policy to address the negative consequences of Brexit for agricultural markets are discussed.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2017 - ЕП

Briefing - Social convergence and EU accession - 28-09-2017

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 10:16:18 GMT

The European Pillar of Social Rights should serve as a 'compass for a renewed process of convergence towards better working and living conditions in the EU Member States'. Convergence of policies, regimes and outcomes happens either by 'growing together' or 'catching up'. There is, however, no consensus in the literature concerning the effect of European integration on welfare states. It is also difficult to discern whether European policy or the extent of its domestic implementation led to a certain result. While analysing gross domestic product and income levels alongside the social expenditure of individual Member States are the most common ways of measuring social convergence, new methods for producing synthetic measures and indexes emerge. Recently, in addition to countries' different starting points in terms of their history, institutional, political, economic and cultural contexts, the importance of micro-politics and micro-sociology are stressed as an explanation of different paths of development. For better policy design, a move beyond analyses based on traditional groupings of welfare regimes is suggested. Although both modern Spain and Portugal, and the central and eastern European countries, developed from authoritarian or totalitarian regimes, their social convergence paths differed greatly. In Spain and Portugal, the transition towards democratic stabilisation that began in the mid-1970s was further encouraged by EU accession. The countries followed distinct paths, but both experienced upward convergence. Following the 2008 crisis, however, their situation deteriorated steadily. Central and eastern European countries entered the accession process with many institutional, political and social challenges stemming from their transition to democracy since 1989. Their social convergence varied following accession, but was generally weak. After 2008, social convergence in the Baltic States declined greatly, but picked up quickly later, while the other countries showed some progress up to 2011, before deteriorating.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2017 - ЕП

Проучване - Council discharge by the European �Ϸ��վ - Finding solutions - 15-06-2017

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 22:00:00 GMT

This study synthesises the main arguments behind the disagreement between the �Ϸ��վ and the Council over the issue of whether the discharge procedure allows the �Ϸ��վ to hold the Council to account concerning the management of its own administrative budget. It then examines the discharge procedure as an accountability mechanism and its impact on the EU legitimacy. It concludes that significant improvement is needed, regardless of which exit to the conflict is chosen. Four scenarios to break the deadlock are put forward, assessing their respective advantages and shortcomings.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2017 - ЕП

Информационни фишове за ЕC - Бюджетна процедура - 01-06-2017

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Считано от договорите от 1970 и 1975 г. ролята на Парламента в бюджетната процедура постепенно се увеличава. Договорът от Лисабон даде на Парламента и на Съвета равни правомощия по отношение на целия бюджет на ЕС.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2017 - ЕП

Информационни фишове за ЕC - Многогодишна финансова рамка - 01-05-2017

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 12:29:28 GMT

До момента има пет многогодишни финансови рамки (МФР). Договорът от Лисабон превърна МФР от междуинституционално споразумение в правно обвързващ акт. Установена за срок от поне пет години, МФР трябва да осигури систематичност в развитието на разходите на Съюза в рамките на неговите собствени ресурси и определя разпоредби, с които годишният бюджет на Съюза трябва да бъде в съответствие, като по този начин полага крайъгълния камък на финансовата дисциплина.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2017 - ЕП

Briefing - Involvement of Independent Fiscal Bodies in the 2014-16 Stability and Convergence Programmes - 27-07-2016

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 22:00:00 GMT

The purpose of the overleaf table is to provide an overview to what extent Member States inform in their current and previous Stability or Convergence Programmes (SCP), about the involvement of independent national fiscal bodies in the preparation of these programmes. The SCP include the national medium-term fiscal plans as specified in the framework of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP).

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2016 - ЕП

Накратко - Mid-term review/revision of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework - 01-07-2016

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 07:06:00 GMT

The EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 lays down maximum annual levels of EU spending in different areas. Before the end of 2016, the European Commission should present the mid-term review and, as appropriate, a revision of the MFF. During the July plenary session, the European �Ϸ��վ is scheduled to discuss and vote on the own-initiative report as its input to the process ahead of the Commission’s presentation of the review. The list of issues at stake includes both current problems requiring immediate action, and long-standing, contentious aspects of the functioning of the MFF beyond 2020.

Източник : © Европейски съюз, 2016 - ЕП