Press Release: Commission adopts Opinions on the 2016 Draft Budgetary Plans of euro area Member States

The European Commission (EC) completed on 17 November 2015 its assessment of 16 Draft Budgetary Plans (DBPs) submitted by Eurozone member states by 15 October.

Cyprus and Greece did not submit a DBP as they were under economic adjustment programmes. Portugal did not submit a plan within the deadline set by EU legislation. The Commission had already adopted an Opinion on the Draft Budgetary Plan of Spain.

European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici stated the Commission could offer France leeway on its budget to take into account security priorities in the wake of the Paris attacks, following France's government warning that its budget deficit would stay above 3% due to increased spending on security.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: European Commission adopts Opinion on Spain's 2016 Draft Budgetary Plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-commission-adopts-opinion-on-spains-2016-draft-budgetary-plan/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/15/6068, 17.11.15: Opinions on the 2016 Draft Budgetary Plans and Decisions taken under the Stability and Growth Pact http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-6068_en.htm

EurActiv, 17.11.15: Spain overtakes France as the eurozone’s problem child http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/spain-overtakes-france-eurozones-problem-child-319530

RTÉ News, 17.11.15: Budget 2016 'broadly compliant' with Commission rules http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2015/1117/742467-commission-budgets/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/6102, 17.11.15: Press remarks by Vice-President Dombrovskis on the Commission's Opinions on draft budgetary plans http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-6102_en.htm

EurActiv, 17.11.15: Brussels ready to give France budget leeway for security http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/brussels-ready-give-france-budget-leeway-security-319560

EUObserver, 17.11.15: France can expect budget flexibility after Paris attacks https://euobserver.com/economic/131150

Jornal de Negócios, 17.11.15: Paris gives lame excuse for excessive deficit (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE173459-Paris-gives-lame-excuse-for-excessive-deficit

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