Talks on the reduction of EU multi-annual budget in progress

RIGA - Talks on the reduction of the European Union's multi-annual budget for 2014-2020 started at the end of January and are currently in progress, European Parliament Member Ivars Godmanis pointed out during today's session of the Saeima European Affairs Committee.

Godmanis explained that the largest EU donor states want to freeze the budget at the level of 2011, even though it was previously planned that it will be set at the level of 2013, writes LETA.

"This pressure will only increase during Denmark's presidency in the first half of 2012," Godmanis pointed out. He also explained that Latvia will most likely not be able to change all of the unfair budget principles to which the country objects.

As reported, Latvia does not support limiting EU cohesion funding to 2.5percent of each country's gross domestic product and wants to achieve fair direct payments to its farmers.