The Budgets Committee’s (BUDG) meeting to review the draft 2017 EU budget approved more funds to help young employment and to support economic growth.
BUDG also debated migration and security related spending increases in order to mitigate the migration crisis.
MEPs decided yesterday to add €1.5 billion in commitment appropriations for boosting and supporting young people into jobs. The funds will be mainly destined to the Youth Employment Initiative.
After the vote, lead rapporteur Jen Geier(S&D, DE) declared, “Consequently we reinforced the budget lines to support jobs and growth and reversed the cuts made by the member states, who acted against their own priorities”.
Regarding assistance to third countries projects, MEPs discussed whether the funds are enough especially when considering the current refugees and migration crisis. Therefore, it was decided to reduce the Council’s cuts in this field and to reinstate the 2016 levels for the ENI Mediterranean aid. As result, €497.9 million was added for the commitment appropriations for this subject.
The BUDG’s draft resolution on the EU’s budget for 2017 was approved by 29 votes to 7, with 1 abstention. Additional funds will be financed through new appropriations obtained by the mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework.
