Options for addressing the shortfall in the EU budget

Question for written answer
to the Commission
Rule 130
Alfred Sant (S&D)

Subject:Options for addressing the shortfall in the EU budget

Given that the UK is one of the largest economies in the EU, reportedly the second net contributor to its budget, there are concerns that Brexit could have a major negative impact on the EU budget.

Given the fragile economic environment in the EU, a decline in resources would have an impact on the already very low level of investments and plunge the European business environment into uncertainty.
With a view to lessening the negative impact on the EU budget, the following three options, at least, could be taken into consideration:
— Reducing EU expenditure;
— Adequately adjusting the UK’s future contribution to the EU budget in exchange for possible access to the single market and to some specific EU policies;
— Increasing the Member States’ contributions to the EU budget.

Which option does the Commission believe is the best for addressing this expected shortfall in the EU budget?

P-007895/2016
Answer given by President Juncker
on behalf of the Commission
(4.1.2017)

Until the Treaties cease to apply to a Member State that has notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the Union, in accordance with Article 50 TEU that State remains a member of the Union with all rights and obligations of a Member State, including on the EU budget.

In line with the Statement of 29 June 2016 of the Heads of State or Government of 27 Member States, as well as the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, there can be no negotiations of any kind before a notification under Article 50 TEU has taken place. At this stage, it is therefore not possible to respond to the question of the Honourable Member.

P-007895/2016
Suġġett: Għażliet biex nindirizzaw l-insuffiċjenza ta’ fondi fil-baġit tal-UE

Peress li l-ekonomija tar-Renju Unit hija fost l-akbar fl-UE, hekk li jingħad li dan il-pajjiż huwa t-tieni l-akbar kontributur nett għall-baġit tal-UE, hemm preokkupazzjonijiet li l-Brexit jista’ jkollu impatt negattiv maġġuri fuq il-baġit tal-UE.
Fid-dawl tal-ambjent ekonomiku fraġli fl-UE, tnaqqis tar-riżorsi jħalli impatt fuq il-livell tal-investimenti, li diġà huwa ferm baxx, kif ukoll jixħet l-ambjent tan-negozju Ewropew f’kuntest ta’ inċertezza.
Bil-għan li jitnaqqas l-impatt negattiv fuq il-baġit tal-UE, għandhom jitqiesu tal-anqas dawn it-tliet għażliet li ġejjin:
– li nnaqqsu l-infiq tal-UE;
– li naġġustaw adegwatament il-kontribuzzjoni futura tar-Renju Unit għall-baġit tal-UE bi skambju ma’ aċċess possibbli għas-suq uniku u għal xi politiki speċifiċi tal-UE;
– li ngħollu l-kontribuzzjonijiet tal-Istati Membri għall-baġit tal-UE.
Il-Kummissjoni liema għażla jidhrilha li tkun l-aħjar biex nindirizzaw din l-insuffiċjenza ta’ fondi mistennija fil-baġit tal-UE?

MT
P-007895/2016
Tweġiba tal-President Juncker f’isem il-Kummissjoni (4.1.2017)

Sakemm it-Trattati ma jibqgħux japplikaw għal Stat Membru li jkun innotifika lill-Kunsill Ewropew bl-intenzjoni tiegħu li jirtira mill-Unjoni, konformement mal-Artikolu 50 TUE, dak l-Istat jibqa’ membru tal-Unjoni bid-drittijiet u l-obbligi kollha ta’ Stat Membru, inkluż fil-baġit tal-UE.

Skont id-Dikjarazzjoni tad-29 ta’ Ġunju 2016 tal-Kapijiet ta’ Stat jew tal-Gvern tas-27 Stat Membru, kif ukoll il-Presidenti tal-Kunsill Ewropew u tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea, ma jista’ jkun hemm l-ebda negozjati ta’ kwalunkwe tip qabel ma tkun saret in-notifika skont l-Artikolu 50 TUE. F’dan l-istadju, għalhekk, mhuwiex possibbli li tingħata tweġiba għall-mistoqsija tal-Onorevoli Membru.