Publication

In this paper, the author evaluates the discussions with regards to the EU budget for 2013. He argues that the EU budget is by design inflexible, and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) has been introduced precisely to stop yearly debates among member states about the size of the budget. Cutting the budget for 2013 would represent a change to the Multiannual Financial Framework that was agreed by heads of state in 2005, and would thus require a renegotiation of the ceilings and the unanimous approval by all member states - an unconceivable move, for a number of reasons.