Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-14-Speech-2-160"
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"en.20041214.12.2-160"2
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".
Mr President, I am pleased that our two institutions reached a global agreement on the budget of the Union for next year during the conciliation meeting on 25 November. Following your deliberations today, allow me to make a few remarks in this context.
As you know, the Council had not initially foreseen the use of the flexibility instrument. In our global compromise the Council had to accept its use for a substantial amount – EUR 185 million – and this was not greeted with enthusiasm by all Member States. Because of budgetary discipline, the Council is of the opinion that choices have to be made, just as, at national level, one cannot simply add up all priorities and expect the bill to be paid.
Having said that, in preparation for the conciliation meeting, the Council listened carefully to Parliament's arguments. Parliament made it clear from the start that it would not be able to finance its traditional priorities and its new priorities in Headings 3 and 4, Internal and External Policies, under the existing ceilings. With the agreements on the use of the flexibility instrument in Heading 3, Parliament is in the position to restore the funding for the agencies. At the same time Parliament has secured sufficient funding for its priorities.
As regards the use of the flexibility instrument in Heading 4, I can agree with the draftsman of the opinion of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs that the outcome can be seen as quite positive for Parliament.
I also want to mention the peace process in Northern Ireland. I am pleased that we were able to agree on the financing of the Peace II programme for 2005-06. We are making a valuable contribution to a long-term solution.
Finally, the Parliament's delegation made it possible to reach agreement by moderating the demands on payment appropriations. We have a balanced result, which the Commission says is workable. I look forward to the signing ceremony on Thursday."@en1
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