EU 2013 budget confirmed after Parliament sign-off

摘要

The EU's spending plan for next year was confirmed on 12 December, after the European Parliament approved a compromise agreement with member states. MEPs in Strasbourg backed an overall 2013 budget of €132.8 billion in payments and €150.9 billion in commitments, constituting 0.99 and 1.13 per cent of the bloc's GNI [gross national income] respectively. Payments are some €5 billion less than called for by the European Commission and MEPs, however -with the Common Agricultural Policy to be given slightly less than that proposed by the Commission.