WWF’s campaign on the EU budget

WWF is working improve how the EU budget is spent by campaigning for measures that will help build a better environment, focus on job creation, prosperity, developing green technologies that benefit society at large. At the same time we are asking the EU to stop incentivising activity that causes environmental damage.

The first stage of our campaign involved advocating environmental best practice with the European Commission, the EU institution charged with proposing the initial draft EU budget. This process continued until the end of 2011. While many progressive elements found their way into the Commission’s final document, more needs to be done to guarantee that it is fit for purpose.

Our work now moves to persuading the European Parliament and the Council of the challenges facing the environment and how the resources of the EU can be best spent. It is these two Institutions that will decide on which of the Commission’s proposals to keep and which will be abandoned.

Not only do we deal with the Common Agricultural and Cohesion Policy, which account for 77% of the budget, we are looking to green all EU expenditures which includes: development policy, infrastructures, fisheries and research.

The negotiation process for the next EU budget is expected to continue until the end of 2013. With our national offices in 25 EU countries and our many allies across civil society we will continue to push the message for a greener EU budget.

Politicians need to be aware that the decisions they make today will have implications for generations to come.

CONTACT

Philippe Carr

Communication manager

WWF European Policy Office

+32 2 740 09 25

Email Philippe
Sebastien Godinot

Economist

WWF European Policy Office

+32 2 740 09 20

Email Sebastien