LYMEC, the European Liberal Youth, broadly welcomes the result of last week’s European Council crucial budget negotiations. We feel that the new budget limit being reduced by 3% for the period from 2014 to 2020 is sensible in light of the current economic climate, and far more sane than the Commission’s recommendations for a 5% increase.
We hope the Parliament backs these proposals.However, there are still some concerns. The agriculture budget is still far too high and impractical, and the cuts to the Connecting Europe Facility will do little to help our generation’s energy and transport needs. In addition, cuts to Regional Development will reduce investment in the parts of the EU where it is needed most. We call on the EU, even with its reduced budget, to be sensible and precise when spending allocated funds, as this will ultimately ease the burden on national treasuries.
Nevertheless, the willingness of our leaders to reach workable and pragmatic solutions at a time of economic uncertainty is to be applauded, even if the national interest appeared to some to come before the common good of the continent. LYMEC hopes that such attitude and diplomacy can be repeated on a more regular basis.
