Conciliation on budget 2013: Statement by Commissioner Lewandowski

Brussels, 14-11-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Tonight’s conciliation session on budget 2013 as well as on amending budget 5 (Solidarity Fund for Emilia Romagna) and amending budget 6 (request for additional funds for ERASMUS, Cohesion Policy, Rural Development and Science and Research) was suspended until Tuesday 13 November in order to give all parties involved more time to work towards a compromise.

Personally, I believe that the one positive outcome of today’s session is the agreement of the Conciliation Committee to mobilise as swiftly as possible the Solidarity Fund for Emilia Romagna after last year’s terrible earthquake, for an amount of EUR 670 Million. This agreement is good news for the people of Emilia Romagna; it also shows that solidarity remains a core value of the European Union.

The Commission will do its utmost to ensure that by Tuesday 13 November at midnight the European Union will have a budget for next year, a budget that combines the needs for restraint and for providing the EU with the means to implement agreed measures towards growth and jobs as well as fulfil its duties.