EU “External” budget: very political scissors

(BRUSSELS2 to Strasbourg) The European Parliament today approved in 'plenary' its proposal for the 2012 budget which includes a recalibration of the European Union's “external relations” budget. In particular: increase in the budget for Palestine and decrease in the budget for Afghanistan. Also read: The budget of the Eupol Afghanistan mission sacrificed on the budgetary altar. A "small gap" separates it from what governments have voted. Trilogue meetings are taking place and conciliation meetings are scheduled for 8 and 18 November.

Targeted cuts

For Roberto Gualtieri, the rapporteur "Foreign Affairs" from the Budget Committee, with whom I was able to discuss for many minutes, this resizing is not due to chance but to an awareness: " we are all facing austerity policies. If we go up somewhere, we have to go down somewhere else. It was painful. But we took our responsibilities. We have to make choices, identify our priorities. » So these are " very political choices " to which the European Parliament has led, choices that lead to " define our priorities ».

The criterion: where Europe has a strategic, decision-making role

“We have identified well-targeted cuts,” explains R. Gualtieri. The criterion was to see where “ the EU has a primary, decisive or leading role and where it only has a complementary role ».

La Palestine belongs to the first category. " It would have been difficult to cut the budget by more than a third at a decisive moment “, while the Quartet, Catherine Ashton try to push for a solution, and at a time when the Congress (US) has already cut in the budget. Hence the budget increase of 100 million (which in effect restores the cut made in the proposal).

La Georgia and Kosovo also fall into this first category. For the EUMM (observation) or Eulex (rule of law) missions, it was thus difficult to cut because these operations are “ part of the strategy defined by the EU » and Europe is in a position of "leader" on these subjects. The budget therefore remains unchanged.

Fall where the EU is not in a leading position

On the other hand, for Afghanistan, it is indisputable that the European Union does not have a leading role. " It complements an already existing strategy set by others. (NB: a strategy that does not really work elsewhere). We cannot change its course. At best, we can accompany him ". " EUPOL Afghanistan is doing a good job - we recognize it and we support it say the MEPs. But you have to make a choice.

Le bloodshed of the deputies on the preparatory measures

The cut on the preparatory measures (to the missions) responds to a bloodshed of the deputies. The Council refused Parliament's proposal to be consulted on future EU missions, it just accepted that Parliament's views be “taken into account” in the discussion. "It's a real breach of the Madrid agreement," said R. Gualtieri, who is also the coordinator for social and democrats on defense and security issues. Parliament therefore pulled out very political scissors, as an ultimatum. As long as the EP is reduced to the bare minimum on the future choices of defense and security policy, it will be reluctant to give more budget.

The section on emergency measures corresponds to more technical data. In the document presenting the budget of the EEAS, it is referred to as reserves". So it seems less necessary.