2002 BUDGET: MEPS CALL FOR EURO 3.3 BILLION INCREASE IN 2002 BUDGET.

If the full Parliament endorses the Budgets Committee's recommendations, the total EU budget will be Euro 99.606 billion in commitment appropriations (CA) and 98.898 billion in payment appropriations (PA). The Council, at its first reading, adopted figures of Euro 99.009 billion in CA and 95.598 billion in PA. The Commission, in its preliminary draft budget, had proposed 100.364 billion in CA and 97.806 billion in PA.The position adopted by the Budgets Committee is as follows, by expenditure category (in commitment appropriations unless stated otherwise):- Agriculture (Heading 1): The Committee is proposing a total figure of Euro 45.39 billion of which 40.795 billion is earmarked for market expenditure (Heading 1a) and 4.595 billion for rural development (Heading 1b). The Commission had proposed Euro 46.22 billion (41.626 billion for Heading 1a and 4.595 billion for 1b). The Council accepted the figures for rural development but suggested Euro 40.42 billion for Heading 1a. However, Parliament and Council will have to consider the Letter of Amendment to be presented very shortly by the Commission, in order to reach agreement before the second reading on the figures to be entered under Heading 1a.- Structural operations (Heading 2): The main issue under this heading relates to the payment appropriations. While the overall figure for commitment appropriations raises no problems (Euro 33.368 billion), the Committee is proposing an increase of around 1.5 billion in the payment appropriations, making a total of Euro 33.657 billion (the Commission had proposed 32.45 billion while Council...