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| European Parliament holds vote on EU budgets amid row | European Parliament holds vote on EU budgets amid row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The European Parliament is to vote shortly on the EU budgets for the coming years, amid a bitter dispute with governments over proposed cuts. | The European Parliament is to vote shortly on the EU budgets for the coming years, amid a bitter dispute with governments over proposed cuts. |
| An MEPs' report deplores a decision by the Council - the 27 governments - to set a proposed rise in the 2013 EU budget at 2.79%. | An MEPs' report deplores a decision by the Council - the 27 governments - to set a proposed rise in the 2013 EU budget at 2.79%. |
| The European Commission, which drafts EU laws, had called for a 6.8% rise. | The European Commission, which drafts EU laws, had called for a 6.8% rise. |
| The long-term budget for 2014-2020 is also being debated, ahead of a key leaders' summit next month. | The long-term budget for 2014-2020 is also being debated, ahead of a key leaders' summit next month. |
| UK Prime Minister David Cameron has promised a "tough" and "rigorous" approach to the budget talks, saying he will exercise his veto if necessary. Budget decisions require the agreement of all 27 member states. | UK Prime Minister David Cameron has promised a "tough" and "rigorous" approach to the budget talks, saying he will exercise his veto if necessary. Budget decisions require the agreement of all 27 member states. |
| In 2011 the UK's net contribution to the EU budget was 11.27bn euros (£9.2bn; $14.7bn), after the UK's rebate of 3.56bn euros from the EU. | |
| Mr Cameron has said he has the support of the German, French, Finnish and Dutch governments to oppose any increase in the seven-year budget above the rate of inflation. He says national governments' tough budget cuts, dictated by the scale of the debt crisis, make the case for reining in EU spending all the more compelling. | Mr Cameron has said he has the support of the German, French, Finnish and Dutch governments to oppose any increase in the seven-year budget above the rate of inflation. He says national governments' tough budget cuts, dictated by the scale of the debt crisis, make the case for reining in EU spending all the more compelling. |
| The Commission, however, argues that the cuts proposed by the Council would harm Europe's growth efforts, hitting research and small firms. | The Commission, however, argues that the cuts proposed by the Council would harm Europe's growth efforts, hitting research and small firms. |
| In 2012 the EU budget was 129.1bn euros (£105bn; $168.5bn), a 1.9% increase on 2011. | In 2012 the EU budget was 129.1bn euros (£105bn; $168.5bn), a 1.9% increase on 2011. |
| The biggest items of spending, accounting for about 80% in total, are agriculture and cohesion funds - aid for Europe's poorer regions. France is especially keen to maintain agriculture spending, while cohesion is a big issue for the ex-communist countries in Eastern Europe. | The biggest items of spending, accounting for about 80% in total, are agriculture and cohesion funds - aid for Europe's poorer regions. France is especially keen to maintain agriculture spending, while cohesion is a big issue for the ex-communist countries in Eastern Europe. |
| The European Parliament's budget committee calls for spending levels for those major budget items to be at least maintained at the 2007-2013 level. | |
| But the MEPs also call for "significant increases" in the budgets for competitiveness, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), sustainable infrastructure and research and innovation. They see those budget areas as growth-enhancing. |