Parliament signs 2020 EU budget deal, boosts spending on climate action

(EurActiv, 28 Nov 2019) The European Parliament yesterday (25 November) formally rubber-stamped an agreement on the EU’s budget for 2020, including a commitment to ring-fence 21% of EU spending on measures aimed at addressing climate change. EURACTIV’s media partner Climate Home News reports.

The budget is the last annual spending plan of the EU’s seven-year budget, running from the start of 2014 to the end of 2020.

The EU has committed to finance projects worth €168.7 billion, of which 21% will go to measures to address climate change. The bloc had a target to dedicate at least 20% of its expenditure to climate protection in the period 2014-2020.

The parliament’s five largest political groupings reached a consensus late on Monday last week (18 November) following “intense discussions” taking place in “a positive spirit,” said budget committee chair Jan Van Overtveldt.

Between 2019 and 2020, climate-related spending on innovation, research and infrastructure will be increased by almost €900 million, with a €1.1bn increase for the Horizon 2020 research programme, Van Overtveldt added.

Additional funds have also been allocated to the EU’s Life programme – the union’s fund for environment and climate protection – and the European Environment Agency, which is expected to recruit six new staff members to work on climate issues.

Kimmo Tiilikainen, finance minister of Finland, which holds the EU Council rotating presidency, said the council and parlia

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EurActiv, 28 Nov 2019: Parliament signs 2020 EU budget deal, boosts spending on climate action