EUR-Lex Access to European Union law
This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 32018B0251
EU budget 2018: €160.1 billion
This summary has been archived and will not be updated, because the summarised document is no longer in force or does not reflect the current situation.
- Date of last review:
- 23/04/2018
- Initial creation date:
- 07/06/2018
- Summary code:
-
- 06.99.00.00 Archived summaries
- EUROVOC descriptor:
- Directory code:
- Summarised document(s):
- Author:
- Publications Office of the European Union
- Responsible entity(ies):
- Directorate-General for Budget
EU budget 2018: €160.1 billion
SUMMARY OF:
Definitive adoption (EU, Euratom) 2018/251 of the EU’s general budget for the financial year 2018
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS ACT?
It is the text agreed upon by the European Parliament and the Council adopting the EU’s budget for 2018.
The budget:
- helps turn the EU’s political priorities into reality;
- sets out and authorises the total annual revenue and expenditure for the EU and the European Atomic Energy Authority;
-
identifies specific priority expenditure areas. For 2018, these include:
- job creation, especially for young people;
- economic growth and strategic investment;
- regional development;
- migration.
KEY POINTS
The 2018 EU budget provides for €160.1 billion in spending commitments* and €144.7 billion in payment* credits. The main areas of expenditure (in € million) are:
|
|
Commitments (€ million) |
Payments (€ million) |
Competitiveness for growth and jobs (research, innovation, education, small- and medium-sized enterprises, etc.) |
22,001 |
20,097 |
Economic, social and territorial cohesion (regional, social and investment funds, etc.) |
55,532 |
46,527 |
Sustainable growth, natural resources (agriculture, fisheries, rural and environment policies, etc.) |
59,285 |
56,084 |
of which: Direct financial support to farmers and market intervention measures |
43,235 |
43,189 |
Security and Citizenship (border protection, asylum policy, anti-terrorism measures, etc.) |
3,493 |
2,981 |
Global Europe (development aid outside EU, humanitarian aid, etc.) |
9,569 |
8,906 |
Administration (staff salaries, pensions and running costs) |
9,666 |
9,666 |
Special instruments |
567 |
420 |
FROM WHEN DOES THE ACT APPLY?
It has applied since 1 January 2018.
BACKGROUND
The annual budget finances the whole range of EU policies, activities, institutions and agencies. It represents about 1% of the gross national income of the 28 EU countries. The European Commission presents its draft proposals and the budget must be agreed by the Council and the European Parliament.
On 30 May 2017, the Commission proposed a 2018 budget of €161 billion in commitments and €145 billion in payments. The Council slightly reduced that amount while the Parliament increased it. The three institutions reached an agreement during the conciliation procedure*. The agreement was formalised by the European Parliament's definitive adoption on 30 November 2017.
For more information, see:
- The budget explained (European Commission).
KEY TERMS
MAIN DOCUMENT
Definitive adoption (EU, Euratom) 2018/251 of the European Union’s general budget for the financial year 2018 (OJ L 57, 28.2.2018, pp. 1–2382)
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Amending letter No 1 to the draft general budget 2018 updating the estimated needs for agricultural expenditure and other adjustments (reserve for the European Union Solidarity Fund, agencies and administrative expenditure) (COM(2017) 615 final, 16.10.2017)
last update 23.04.2018