EU limits spending to 129bln euros in 2012 budgetNovember 19, 2011 - 10:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The EU's 27 national governments and the European Parliament agreed Saturday, November 19, to limit spending to 129 billion euros ($174 billion) in the 2012 budget, up two percent from 2011, the Polish EU presidency said. The agreement - described by Europe's budget commissioner Janusz Lewandowski as an "austerity budget" amid the spiraling debt crisis - defied the preference of the bloc's parliamentarians for bigger spending. But under-secretary of state for finance Jacek Dominik, who chaired the marathon meeting which started Friday evening, said: "The agreement was reached unanimously." The limit was imposed by European governments that have been forced to cut their own budgets and impose austerity measures due to the debt crisis. Lewandowski added that he was "concerned about the risks of not being able to pay all our bills". The agreement came as a defeat for European Parliament members who had voted on October 26 for a free-spending budget of 133.1 billion euros ($180 billion). A year ago, a deadline for similar conciliation passed without a deal and left the EU briefly in budget limbo, working off monthly versions of the 2010 figures. The parliament wanted the EU to have over 133 billion euros available to spend in 2012, a 6.6-billion-euro increase on 2011 which amounts to 5.2 percent. The latest budget talks set the stage for even tougher negotiations on the EU's overall spending priorities for its next seven-year budgetary cycle from 2014 to 2020, AFP reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |