In the presence of EP rapporteurs Isabelle Thomas and Jan Olbrycht and European Commission Director General Nadia Calvino, the EU-COR Budget working group debated the major issues at stake in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) review/revision.

The CoR members called for an EU budget which could live up to current challenges and for a revision of the MFF as flexibility margins have already been pushed to the limit. At the same time members fear the amount of unpaid bills would once again reach unsustainable level at the end of this MFF if no proper revision is carried out at mid term.

EA member Tony Buchanan, in his capacity of Vice President of the NAT commission, while touching upon the crisis affecting rural areas, highlighted the need to find appropriate responses to rural development. Moreover he said there is ample room for improvement when it comes to streamlining procedures. Funding should reach local government directly thus avoiding multi-layered processes which are a cause of slower budget implementation and errors.

Press coverage:

http://www.bialystokonline.pl/truskolaski-spotkal-sie-z-tuskiem-dyskusja-w-komitecie-regionow-o-przyszlosci-ue,artykul,91012,1,1.html