EU leaders agree broad terms of Budget
European Union leaders have agreed the broad lines of a deal on the bloc's budget for 2014-202 that would fix total EU spending at €960 billion over the seven-year period.
"We feel pretty confident that we have the framework for a deal," said one EU official speaking on condition of anonymity. "The deal is not completely finalised, but we feel sure it will be done today."
Leaders will continue negotiating in the expectation that they can sign off on a final agreement later on today, the official added.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi last night said that Malta continues to be optimistic that it will achieve a good deal in EU Budget talks despite increasing calls for further cuts.
Speaking to timesofmalta.com during a break in an EU summit meeting Dr Gonzi said that Malta’s team of negotiators, led by EU Permanent Representative Marlene Bonnici, was examining the minute details of the latest proposals put on the table.
Sources close to the meeting said that Council President Herman Van Rompuy proposed a further €45 billion cut in the seven-year budget putting the overall figure down to €912 billion.
Most of the budget cuts will come from the administration of the EU.
Member states are divided in two groups, with the net contributors arguing for further cuts in order to reflect the austerity measures they are taking at home due to the ongoing economic recession and the net beneficiaries like Malta who want to preserve a good level of financing so that their economies continue to come closer to the EU average.
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Jonathan Camilleri
Feb 9th, 09:51
Is this a good deal so?
effie stafrace
Feb 8th, 16:17
the usual lie.no agreement reached so far.
Carmel Camilleri
Feb 8th, 15:57
Surely there is room for cuts in the overall lavishness of the EU Administration. I am sure those citizens who have been hard hit by the recession would like the EU to reflect the state of their sufferings.
m farrugia
Feb 8th, 14:19
prim ministru jahdem ghal pajjiz sa lahhar qatra u kap ta loppozzizzjoni u shabu hsiebhom biex jitilghu akkost ta kollox, iweghdu kollox lil kulhadd basta jisirqu il voti akkost li jfarrku kull istituzzjoni tal pajjiz ghal mepa
Charles Zerafa
Feb 8th, 11:32
Stennen sa kemm narraw kemm se jigieb flus!
Joseph E Briffa
Feb 8th, 12:07
You will soon swallow your words Charlea
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 8th, 10:54
The word in the UK is that although the ovrall EU budget will be reduced, the UK's contribution will increase. Now that's what I call creative accounting!
Reminds me of ARMS.
C Cassar
Feb 8th, 11:11
The whole point of the EU is to bring in poorer states, help their economies by financial contributions and hence create new markets for the sale of services and goods of other states. The poorer states will also be contributors when their GDP levels rise to those of other states. The UK's isolationist stance simply increases the pressure of migration from these states to the UK as already seen.
Joseph E Briffa
Feb 8th, 12:06
ARMS performs well after the usual initial hiccups. They have a very good website which you can use from the comfort of your own home. People who queue up are the ones who never bothered to learn modern technologies. They only have themselves to blame for lagging behind.
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 8th, 13:30
@Joseph Briffa
I won't bore you with details but I sold my property last year and in spite of my filling all the proper forms they are still sending the utility bills to me. The new owner hasn't had any yet.
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 8th, 13:36
@ C. Cassar
What you say is right- to a point. however, it depends what you mean by poor. Greece is in trouble because taxes are not collected, not because the country is inherently poor.
The reason people come to the UK is for handouts. I saw a Nigerian family with 8 children on t.v. last night living in a 4-star hotel at taxpayers' expense.
Joe Pace Asciak
Feb 8th, 10:45
Thanks Prime Minister Gonzi, because you succeeded in giving to the nation five years of relative well-being, notwithstanding the crude pragmatism and the relentless demagogy of the Opposition and its innermost circles.
Albert Pace
Feb 8th, 09:34
Why not leave the EU budget in the hands of Gonzi and Tonio Fenech they will surely do a good job!!
Cornelius Murphy
Feb 8th, 09:06
Can you imagne JosephMuscatDotCom up there negotiating for Malta? Heavens help us!
victor bonello
Feb 8th, 12:29
you must living in another world ,PL have shown all those not wearing dark blue glasses that they have a team of professionals and that they have done their homework.
Mario Mifsud
Feb 8th, 14:18
@ victor . Who are they victor ? Karmenu Vella , Leo Brincat , Alex sciberras trigona , I saw karmenu Vella last night on bondi plus and i got the impression that not even he was understanding what he was saying
m farrugia
Feb 8th, 14:20
yes with minister karmenu vella who is not even capable of explaining himself on bondiplus let alone in brussels
A. Sultana
Feb 8th, 15:31
No they have not. Muscat has so far shown that his best skill is copying.
Alexander Montebello
Feb 8th, 08:59
While Muscat bandies about on his podium promising everything to everyone ... Gonzi's working to secu the best possible EU deal for Malta.
How many people have clocked this??
victor bonello
Feb 8th, 12:32
did you mean working secure or suck EU funds?
A. Sultana
Feb 8th, 15:23
Victor, whichever it is, it is for the country's benefit.
C. Bartoli
Feb 8th, 08:58
The difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician thinks about the next election while the statesman think about the next generation”
― Hillary Rodham Clinton
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 8th, 13:38
Well, well. She's smarter than I thought.
Joe Pace Asciak
Feb 8th, 08:29
Thanks Prime Minister Gonzi, because you succeeded in giving to the nation five years of relative well-being, notwithstanding the crude pragmatism and the relentless demagogy of the Opposition and its innermost circles.
Mr Stephen Borg
Feb 8th, 17:55
If it was well being for you I can assure you that it was not the same for many other Maltese because we had to pay more for everything with our below standard wages based on cheap labor and exploitation, also thanks to our dear PM Lawrence Gonzi
Please choose the reason of your report below: