The European Parliament has adopted the 2011 EU budget at its Plenary Session in Strasbourg on 15 December. This final vote closes a process which was marked by the blockage of negotiations between the Parliament and the Council due to their differences over issues such as the future financial framework and own resources. This adoption avoids a “provisional twelfths” scenario and clarifies future funding for initiatives in areas such as lifelong learning, Daphne programme on violence against women and child, the ICP or the ITER initiative.

Following Council's adoption  of the new EU budget proposal put forward by the European Commission, MEPs have also reached agreement with the Council and Commission regarding several budget-related political demands. The final document adopted by the Chamber includes the levels proposed in the Commission's draft budget of 26 November, earmarking 141.8 billion Euro for commitments and 126.5 billion Euro in payments. In this sense, Parliament has always attached more importance to the level of commitments, since they determine the expenditure.

The 2011 budget, as adopted by the full Parliament, includes more funding for the priorities set out by MEPs, including youth, innovation, the Middle East peace process and Palestine. Furthermore, there is an agreement between Council, Parliament and Commission that, should additional funds be necessary to fulfil the EU's legal obligations, there will be amending budgets during 2011, as the EU budget cannot legally have a deficit.

Examples of some EU Programmes and Initiatives with future funding on 2011 EU budget (commitments)

• Competitiveness for growth and employment: MEPs won more money for the Lifelong Learning Programme (+18 million Euro), the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (+10 million Euro) and Intelligent Energy — Europe programme (+10 million Euro). In compesation, 47 million Euro will be cut from ITER initiative
• Cohesion for growth and employment: a new line, worth +2.5 million Euro, for the Baltic Sea strategy has been added
• Preservation and management of natural resources: Environment programme Life+ funding is increased by +6.7 million Euro and support for the management of fishery resources by +2 million Euro
• Freedom, security and justice: additional +2.35 million Euro are grated to the Daphne programme for the fight against violence against women and children and +1 million Euro for prevention of terrorism
• Citizenship: additional +4 million Euro go to support the World Special Olympics in Athens and +3 million Euro to the Youth in Action programme
• The EU as a global partner: an extra amount of +100 million Euro for Palestine, the peace process and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Debate over own resources and financial framework

Aside from the 2011 budget, Parliament had a number of political demands relating to the implementation of the budgetary provisions in the Lisbon Treaty. On the own resources issue, the Commission will present a formal proposal by the end of June 2011, so that it is discussed at the same time as the future financial perspective, working in more detail the way for Parliament's involvement in these matters as laid down in the Treaty.

Furthermore, the Parliament has achieved an agreement with the Council's Presidency which is backed by the other Member States with a commitment by the next four EU presidencies (the governments of Hungary, Poland, Denmark and Cyprus) on the involvement of the Parliament in the Multiannual Financial Framework, which has given sufficient assurances to MEPs.