Inquiry of the House of Lords on the High Level Group on EU Own Resources. Witness: Senator Mario Monti.
The High Level Group on Own Resources was jointly launched by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission in the context of the compromise on the multiannual financial framework for the period 2014 to 2020. In view of the gridlock with regard to reform on the revenue side, the European Parliament insisted on the creation of such a group in order to keep alive the interinstitutional debate on the financing side of the EU budget. The group’s mandate is anchored in a joint declaration, which was adopted in December 2013 by the three institutions, together with other declarations accompanying the MFF, which is currently in force. The joint declaration provides that the group will undertake a general review of the current own resources system and issue a first assessment at the end of 2014, taking into account all existing and forthcoming input from the three European institutions and national parliaments. It will draw on appropriate expertise, including from national budgetary and fiscal authorities and independent experts. National parliaments will assess the outcome of the work of the group in the context of an interparliamentary conference in 2016. On the basis of the group’s work, the Commission will then judge whether legislative initiatives to reform the own resources system are appropriate.
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