The European Commission to amend this year’s EU budget to take into account the impact of Croatia’s accession to the EU

Brussels, 18-3-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission proposes today to amend this year’s EU budget to take into account the impact of Croatia’s accession to the EU. The proposed increase amounts to EUR 655.1 million in commitments¹ (0.4% of the 2013 budget) and EUR 374.0 million (0.3%) in payments². These amounts reflect the provisions of the accession treaty signed between the EU and Croatia.

“From 1 July 2013 when Croatia joins the EU, says EU Commissioner for Financial programming and Budget Janusz Lewandowski, Croat regions and towns, small and medium-sized businesses, NGOs, scientists and other will be eligible for EU funds just like any other Member State. This amending budget simply implements the financial aspects of the unanimous agreement of EU Member State to welcome Croatia as the 28th Member of the European Union. ”

Croatia’s contribution to the 2013 EU budget will be EUR 211.9 million.

The draft amending budget will need to be adopted by the budgetary authority, i.e. the Council and the European Parliament.

See detailed table below.

Draft Amending Budget 1 (Croatia’s accession to the EU) in EUR million, current prices

Background Information:

Croatia applied for EU membership in 2003 and started accession negotiations in 2005. On 9 December 2011 the EU and Croatia signed the Accession Treaty. Subject to its ratification by all EU countries, the country will become the 28th EU Member State on 1 July 2013.

This amending budget covers the financial changes needed to accommodate Croatia’s accession. At the same time the Commission presents a proposal for the revision of the multi-annual financial framework 2007-2013 (MFF) to reflect those changes.