EU budget 2017: 99.9 % budget implementation

The European Commission has proposed to amend the 2018 budget to include the 2017 positive balance of EUR 555.5 million. This reflects the final implementation of the EU budget last year. The contributions of Member States to the current EU budget will be lowered by the same amount. The main reason for the surplus is that more revenue than originally expected came to the EU budget from competition fines and related interest. Implementation of the authorised payments reached 99.9 %. This means that practically all possibilities for financing important projects in Europe and beyond have been used. The European Commission's aim is to make sure that every euro is spent in the most efficient way possible and that results are quickly felt on the ground. The full implementation of the 2017 budget is yet another confirmation of the importance of European finances, ahead of the European Commission´s proposals for the future EU budget which is planned for the beginning of May.

Next steps

The European Commission cannot change the annual EU budget adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. Instead, it may present one or several draft amending budget(s) for their approval.

Following the submission of Draft Amending Budget No 2 for the year 2018 approval is needed by the European Parliament and the Council.

Background

A draft amending budget (DAB) is a proposal to amend the adopted annual budget. By definition, any budget (be it of the EU, a Member State, a private company or a household) bases itself on forecasts and estimates of expenditures and revenues. Therefore, budgets can be amended in the light of new elements. Some amending budgets are presented regularly each year.

The number of DABs presented by the Commission varies from one year to another.

Related documents

Draft Amending Budget No 2 of the European Union for the financial year 2018