Parliament ready to strike deal on EU budget

Article reported that Members of the European Parliament were ready to accept in March 2013 the controversial 3% EU budget cut in the Multiannual financial framework, 2014 - 2020 agreed by EU governments in February 2013 in return for more flexibility.

The European Parliament's mandate to negotiate the EU budget for 2014-2020 with the EU member states' Irish Presidency was approved in a Resolution voted on the 13 March 2013. In the Resolution rejected the 8 February 2013 European Council conclusions in their current form. MEPs wanted more flexibility and efficiency within the budget.

By the Resolution adopted the European Parliament wielded its new powers to reject for the first time a long-term EU budget agreed by the governments of the EU's 27 member states, setting the stage for a further possibly contentious negotiation between the two sides.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: No to EUsterity http://www.europeansources.info/record/charlemagne-no-to-eusterity/

ESO: Background information: EU leaders agree budget cuts, MEPs brace for strife http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-leaders-agree-budget-cuts-meps-brace-for-strife-eu-budget-hawks-succeed-in-e960-billion-cap/

ESO: Background information: Website: Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 http://www.europeansources.info/record/multiannual-financial-framework-2014-2020/

European Parliament: Headlines, 12.02.13: The battle for the EU's long-term budget http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/content/20110429FCS18370/

EurActiv, 13.03.13: National egos tame Parliament’s ire over EU budget http://www.euractiv.com/priorities/national-egos-tame-parliament-ir-news-518443

BBC, 13.03.13: MEPs want renegotiation of EU budget deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21754737

EUObserver, 13.03.13: EU parliament sets pre-conditions for budget talks http://euobserver.com/institutional/119406

European Parliament: Press Release, 13.03.13: Long-term EU budget negotiations: EP sets out its stance http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20130312IPR06440/

Spiegel Online International, 13.03.13: Parliament Flexes Muscles: Tough Talks Ahead for EU Budget http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/european-parliament-rejects-budget-proposal-of-eu-leaders-a-888713.html

Deutsche Welle, 13.03.13: EU Parliament wants fresh negotiations on bloc budget http://www.dw.de/eu-parliament-wants-fresh-negotiations-on-bloc-budget/a-16668424

Blog: Public Service Europe, 13.03.13: MEPs demand 'movement' on EU budget deal http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3200/meps-demand-movement-on-eu-budget-deal

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