The European Parliament's plenary session housed on November 23 a debate with the European Commission and the Belgian presidency of the Union, where its position on the deadlock of EU budget for 2011 remained unchanged. In his speech before the debate, the president of the Commission, Durao Barroso announced that the College of Commissioners is preparing a new draft budget to be submitted on 1 December which is expected to be approved within next 15 days.

In a debate where president Barroso appealed to the "European spirit", MEPs reaffirmed their position regarding negotiations with the Council for the adoption of the EU budget for 2011. Parliament's stand firm in accepting the figures proposed by the Council, while it calls for an agreement on the flexibility and the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, ahead of the negotiations on the multiannual financial framework and own resources.

In their respective turns to speak, a majority of MEPs highlighted the position of the Chamber, stressing the need for member states to respect the role provided by the Treaty in relation to budget. MEPs believe that the future of policies derived from the Treaty is played in these negotiations and that this deadlock goes in detriment of citizens.

In the debate over own resources, some Members stressed the need to provide the Union with the instruments and adequate funding so that it does not depend on the will of member states. In relation to the establishment of a special tax to finance these resources, some voices called for getting to the end of the blockade as a way to achieve this goal.

President Barroso announced proposals by mid-2011 in relation to own resources which would take into account the arguments put forward by the Parliament. In his speech, Barroso also stressed that this debate should address the costs of a "non-Europe", and pass the message that EU membership is a matter far beyond the accounting aspects.

In relation to flexibility, Barroso supported the idea of the Council deciding to implement this instrument by a qualified majority and recalled that EU budget, unlike nationals, is specifically oriented to investment policies whose beneficiaries are mainly citizens. This is not a budget for Brussels, it is a budget for the citizens.

Melchior Wathelet, on behalf of the Council, expressed the willingness of the Council to bring positions closer and the need to reach an agreement in last weeks of the year, since the consequences of a European Union working without a budget would be very negative for the introduction of tools such as the European External Action Service, the future of policies such as cohesion policy or financial supervising system.

On 25 November the Parliament will vote on a resolution on the budget negotiations.