Everyone has been concerned about the EU’s multiannual financial framework that was finally agreed upon. The budget of the EU has a considerable influence on the extent and impact of its full range of policies and programmes. The EU Bookshop has just published a report that presents the key figures of the 2014–2020 multiannual financial framework (MFF) as well as to present an overview of the 2014 EU budget. It also contains basic information on the budget revenue. The 2014–2020 MFF brings in a whole set of new programmes that cover Europe’s political priorities for the next 7 years: research and innovation (Horizon 2020), connecting together the transport, energy and IT infrastructure of all Member States (connecting Europe facility), education (Erasmus+), job opportunities for our youth (youth employment initiative) and competitiveness of Europe’s businesses (COSME), to name a few. In a nutshell, the next financial period will see Europe do more — especially in the abovementioned areas — with less, as for the first time the ceilings for that period will be lower than the previous ones. As for the 2014 EU budget, it will be the first budget of the new financial period (2014–2020). As the bookstore states, both the budget and the MFF, born in times of crisis, reflect the current situation in the EU. Signs of economic recovery are visible, but it is too early to talk about the crisis in the past tense.
The report is available here.
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 