Member States’ positions on the proposed 2014-2020 EU budget

The EU institutions and EU Member States are currently negotiating the EU’s budget for the period 2014-2020. The outcome of the negotiations will have important implications for developing countries and EU external relations more generally. Of keen interest is the position of EU Member States in relation to the European Commission’s current budget proposals. The purpose of this Briefing Note is to report back on, as well as analyse, statements from a recent Council meeting where each EU Member State was given an opportunity to publically state its position. The note is meant to inform stakeholders from both developing and EU countries, particularly on positions relating to budgetary funding for EU external action and the European Development Fund (EDF). On 26 March 2012, the Council of the European Union convened in Brussels for the 3158th Council meeting on General Affairs (GAC), chaired by Mr Nicolai Wammen, Minister for European Affairs of Denmark. During the meeting, the Council focused on the multiannual financial framework (MFF – the EU budget) for the 2014-2020 period, discussing the so-called negotiating box. The negotiating box outlines the most central issues and options for certain parts of the MFF.