Richard Ashworth

EU Budget

The European Parliament's Budgets Committee is one arm of the EU's Budgetary authority. The committee influence in budgetary matters and all matters relating to financial resources of the EU is viewed central to the Parliament's fight for a greater role in shaping EU policies.

The committee is involved from the preparation stage, laying down general guidelines; it debates each budget line and can table amendments to non-compulsory expenditure and propose modifications to compulsory expenditure. What this means is MEPs have a direct say in areas of expenditure that aren't dictated by the Treaties.

The current Chairman of the Budgets Committee is Mr Janusz Lewandowski, a Polish MEP and member of the centre-right EPP/ED Group. The committee meets up to four times a month and also takes part in periodic meetings with national parliaments to discuss particular issues.

Budget Issues and News

UK Budget Rebate

Rebate Update - June 2005

Rebate Update - October 2005

Budget Negotiations - Q&A

Budget 2006 - Boosting Jobs & Growth

Rebate Update - December 2005

ANOTHER FINE MESS MR BLAIR...

Court of Auditors - Q&A

EU's budget deal promises increased accountability for spending

Financial Perspective's Update - January 2006

2007 EU budget

EU Court of Auditors report on the 2005 year accounts.

House of Lords Report - Court of Auditors

European Parliament backs British Conservatives proposals for cutting fraud and waste in the European Budget