Business of the House: European union documents
Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 119(11)),
That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 8041/13, draft Amending Budget No. 2 to the General Budget 2013: general statement of revenue: statement of expenditure by section: Section III: Commission, No. 11295/13, a draft Council Regulation laying down the Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2014–2020, No. 11298/13, a draft Inter-Institutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, and No. 11307/13, a draft Council Regulation laying down the Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2014–2020 and Inter-Institutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management: Draft Declarations; agrees with the Government that at a time of ongoing economic fragility in Europe and tight constraints on domestic public spending, the MFF agreement reached, which delivers a reduction of €35 billion on the current period in the seven year payment ceilings to €908.4 billion, a real-terms reduction of over three per cent in payment appropriations, represents a good deal for taxpayers; welcomes the Government’s successful defence of the UK abatement, noting that UK contributions to the EU budget have risen in recent years due to the 2005 decision to give away parts of the abatement, shares the Government’s disappointment at the Council Decision to agree an additional €7.3 billion in 2013 in draft Amending Budget No. 2 and welcomes the Government’s opposition to that decision, reflecting as it does the weaknesses in the 2007-13 deal.—(Anne Milton.)