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The 'financial perspectives' describe the EU's budget priorities over a period of several years. The political debate about the EU budget for 2007-2013 was dominated by the differences over how much each member state would have to pay and receive out of the EU budget.
Yet, a much more important issue is the quality of public spending.
The budget compromise finally reached by the member states in December 2005 includes a provision that a full review of the entire EU budget will be undertaken in 2008/2009
The review will be an opportunity to clean up the EU budget.
The budget review should be made with the aim to make Europe the most resource efficient economy of the world. Significant increases in energy and resource efficiency will improve competitiveness, reduce dependency on oil imports and other resources, encourage innovation, create jobs and improve the environment. It is also an imperative for global justice, leaving sufficient resources for developing countries to meet the needs of their populations.
All funding should be conditional to achieving the EU’s environmental, economic and social objectives. For too long, major EU budget lines such as the agricultural subsidies and structural funds have been spent in conflict with the EU’s own declared environmental objectives and helped create additional external costs for which the society has to pay (for example, costs for the clean-up of pollution or health care).
To avoid 'horse-trading' between member states during the next budget negotiations, the EU's budget revenue should be based on an EU-wide tax, e.g. a tax on energy consumption that will stimulate savings and efficiency.
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