Press Release: Budget 2009: highest spending for growth and employment

Long-term economic progress and employment remained firmly at the top of European Union spending, taking the biggest share – nearly 45% - of the proposed 2009 budget - a 3% rise on 2008. The proposal presented on 6 May, 2008, also highlighted the growing trend to gear policy spending towards the energy and environment, with a massive 10% of the budget going on environment. Money for agriculture will remain stable at €42.9 billion. All headings in the budget will grow, reaching a total of €134.4 billion in commitments and €116.7 billion in payments.