Richard Bruton
Question:196 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the over-estimate in 2002 of the EU contributions; and if he expects that a similar saving will apply in 2003. [21272/02]
Written Answers. - EU Budget.
The original estimate for Ireland's EU budget contribution in 2002 was based on the 2002 EU budget as adopted towards the end of last year. Since then, two supplementary amending budgets adopted in the EU in 2002 have made substantial downwards revisions in the contributions expected of member states in 2002. These reductions in member state contributions were possible because of the carryover into the 2002 EU budget of an outturn surplus of €15 billion from the 2001 EU budget. This surplus from the 2001 EU budget represents savings in the agricultural sector, fines paid in competition cases and the under-utilisation of allocations for the Structural Funds. The 2002 saving to Ireland arising from the supplementary amending budgets is some €281million.
The 2003 EU budget process is currently well under way but will not be completed until December next. It is expected that some surplus will be available from the 2002 EU budget which would be available for carryover into the 2003 EU budget. However, it is unclear at this stage how big the surplus from the 2002 EU budget is likely to be and what impact it will have on member state contributions. Since the 2003 EU budget is expected to be higher than the 2002 EU budget and since the surplus carried over into 2003 is unlikely to prove as large as that carried over into 2002, we would expect that Ireland's EU budget contribution in 2003 will exceed our EU budget contribution in 2002. As per normal, the White Paper for Receipts and Expenditure published before budget day will contain an estimate for Ireland's EU budget contribution in 2003.