EU spending 2014: targets to be applied in deeds not only in words

"The Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors released today shows that Member States must better focus on funding their common European goals", says German MEP Joachim Zeller who monitors the 2014 budgetary discharge for the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

The major responsibility of the spending lies within the Member States who manage 80% of the EU budget under the system of shared management. The report shows that the 4.4% error rate for 2014 is on a similar level as in recent years and is still far away from the 2% threshold where expenditures are considered to be error-free.

"Because of this shared management, the majority of errors found must be tackled by administrative authorities in the Member States. Also, intensive cooperation with our national parliaments is very urgent. They must realise that they are dealing with the money of their citizens", said Zeller.

Zeller noted the need to align the budget more on its own targets and priorities. "It is unacceptable that the representatives of the Member States decide in Brussels on common goals and projects for the collection of funds from the European budget. But at home in their capitals, it is different and the jointly agreed European objectives no longer play a role. The Commission needs to give much more attention to the targeting."

"For the recipients of funding, a standardisation and simplification of the implementation rules is necessary. Otherwise, the use of the European budget is even less attractive for many. Simplified implementation rules could also mean fewer defects", concluded Zeller.