Klaus Iohannis, consultations in Brussels with EC President

President Klaus Iohannis has consultations in Brussels today with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, on the future multiannual budget of the European Union.

According to RRA Special Envoy Oana Bâlă, there are differences between EU Member States on the new budget formula, after the EU lost one of its main contributors, through Brexit.

Oana Bâlă: "President of the European Council, Chales Michel, has consulted with several Heads of State and Government in the Member States this week on the long-term budget of the European Union for the period 2021-2027 and he wishes that at the extraordinary meeting of the Council, convened for February 20, an agreement will be reached that will be for the benefit of the citizens. President of the European Council is fully aware that extremely difficult negotiations will follow, but argues that a possible disagreement over the future European budget would create serious practical and political problems and would jeopardize continuation of current programs and the launch of new ones. Several European countries fear that the future agreement will bring significant budget cuts, other than stop of contribution of Britain, which has officially left the EU. European Commission and European Parliament have called for increased Member States' contributions to fill the gap left by the United Kingdom, but representatives of net contributing states would like a reduction of the EU budget, in particular by cutting cohesion funds or those for agriculture".

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei