Budget 2009: highest spending for growth and employment

On the 21st of November representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers delivered an overall deal on the 2009 budget.
Long-term economic progress and employment remain firmly at the top of European Union spending, taking the biggest share – nearly 45% - of the proposed 2009 budget, that is a 3% rise on 2008. The budget proposal also highlights the growing trend to gear policy spending towards the energy and environment.
All headings in the budget will grow, reaching a total of €134.4 billion in commitments and €116.7 billion in payments.
Out of total 134.4 billion euro of expenditures foreseen in 2009 budget: 44.7% will be spent of cohesion and competitiveness for growth and development, 31.9% for direct aids and market related expenditures, 10.9% for rural development, 5.7% on total administrative expenditure, 5.5% on EU as global player and 1.1% on citizenship, freedom, security and justice, 0.2% on compensations for Bulgaria and Romania.
Parliament succeeded in securing funding for agricultural aid for developing countries. It was possible to maintain the total amount of €1 billion that had been proposed for “a facility for rapid response to soaring prices in developing countries” over the three-year period 2008-10.
As far as the entire EU budget for 2009 is concerned, the overall amount of €116.7 billion in payments was agreed for 2009 – this represents 0.894% of EU Gross National Income, and it represents a modest increase over the 2008 budget.
Parliament’s second reading of the 2009 Budget is expected to take place on 18 December.

Source of information: New of Delegation of European Commission to Ukraine
http://www.delukr.ec.europa.eu/