Agreement reached on the EU budget

On 18 November, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached agreement on an EU budget for 2020. The budget focuses on priorities such as climate change mitigation, job creation, strengthening security and addressing the challenges of migration.

EU member states discussed next year’s budget in a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council. On the same day, the Council and the European Parliament sought agreement on the budget in a meeting of the Conciliation Committee.

State Secretary Kimmo Tiilikainen represented the Council in the negotiations with the European Parliament.

Next year's budget strengthens support for the EU's priority areas and best-performing programmes. It also ensures a realistic approach, taking into account the interests of taxpayers and the need to cater for new challenges that may arise in 2020. I would like to highlight in particular the move to further "green" the EU budget and ensure that it works in support of the EU's climate agenda.

– Kimmo Tiilikainen, State Secretary, Ministry of Finance of Finland