Europe starts its budget conference, launching two years of debate as the EU reels under an economic crisis.

The News: EU spending in times of crisis

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15707899/n001-111019-001-en_mf.srt

Under the cloud of an economic crisis,  Europe is launching its first-ever conference

to kick off two tough years of negotiations  on the EU's next long-term budget.

The last budget talks  were extremely difficult

and in crisis conditions,  setting criteria will be complicated.

The EP and Commission  agree that the seven-year budget

But big Member States, including  France and Germany, want a freeze.

They want Europe  to cut spending like them.

I think they will accept an increase  around the inflation rate, just over 2%.

If there is an increase in the EU budget  post-2013 of just over 2%,

we must ensure that the spending  during that period is on our priorities,

and for me the priorities must be  jobs and growth in the EU.

But even a 5% rise will not be  enough to realise EU ambitions.

The External Action Service needs funds  to make Europe a global player.

More money must go to fight  illegal immigration and terrorism,

But few States want taxes  levied in Brussels.

If we explain it well  to the national parliaments,

to be relieved of this huge charge  to their national budgets.

For France, it's €18 billion per year.

Most money is spent on agriculture,  which France staunchly defends,

but also on development projects  so vital to central and eastern nations.

The EU has two years to find a solution.