The right moment to reform the EU budget

The High Level Group on Own Resources (HLGOR) chaired by Mario Monti presented its final report on 17 January 2017. It contains recommendations for reform of the European Union’s own resources system. In October 2016, as part of its mid-term review of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2014-2020), the European Commission marked starting points for reforms on the expenditure side of the EU budget. Now, the EU is turning its attention to the revenue side. The European Commission must draw up its proposals for the next MFF, applicable after 2020, by the end of 2017. The debate on a comprehensive reorganisation of European budget policy will then begin to gather speed. (author's abstract