Xinhua, Brussels :
The Council of the European Union here Friday requested the European Commission to submit a proposal to allow member states related to defer the required payment over a reasonable period of time.
According to the presidency conclusions of the meeting of EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council, which was held on Friday, the date when the relevant member states can defer their payment should be no later than Sept. 1.
“Due to the major revisions of the Gross National Income (GNI) of several member states, their additional contributions to the EU budget will be substantial,” said the presidency conclusions, adding that the payment date of the first working day of December is short.
It said the original payment date in December “may result in exceptionally high fiscal implications for those member states,” it said.
For the sake of equal treatment of all member states, deferral should then be an option for all if the overall sum of the GNI balances is exceptionally high. And taken into account the tight deadlines, this amendment should come into effect by Dec. 1 this year.
European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva said at a press briefing after the meeting that the topic that took most of the time during the Council discussion was related to the GNI corrections.
The Council of the European Union here Friday requested the European Commission to submit a proposal to allow member states related to defer the required payment over a reasonable period of time.
According to the presidency conclusions of the meeting of EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council, which was held on Friday, the date when the relevant member states can defer their payment should be no later than Sept. 1.
“Due to the major revisions of the Gross National Income (GNI) of several member states, their additional contributions to the EU budget will be substantial,” said the presidency conclusions, adding that the payment date of the first working day of December is short.
It said the original payment date in December “may result in exceptionally high fiscal implications for those member states,” it said.
For the sake of equal treatment of all member states, deferral should then be an option for all if the overall sum of the GNI balances is exceptionally high. And taken into account the tight deadlines, this amendment should come into effect by Dec. 1 this year.
European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva said at a press briefing after the meeting that the topic that took most of the time during the Council discussion was related to the GNI corrections.
