EU BUDGET: PARLIAMENT INTENDS TO KEEP ITS FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE RIGHTS.

The European Parliament notes that although financial perspectives have in the past guaranteed a framework for the development of new policies, they will mean less flexibility between the different areas of expenditure. They will also lead to Parliament giving up certain powers, for example the right to shape the budget according to the provisions of the Treaty.

So the current legislature is determined to avoid making any move that would limit the decision-making powers of the new Parliament to be elected in June. And if the Constitution is not in force for the period of application of the next financial perspective, it provides for the possibility of keeping on annual budgeting procedures. This would avoid a subsequent review that could reassign resources to newly foreseen activities.

Moreover, the Parliament does not consider itself bound by the European Council's cap on farm spending until 2013. Moreover, it sees no reason to...