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The European Commission today published three reports on the implementation of the 2016 EU budget. They show that the EU budget in 2016 has helped achieve the political priorities of the European Union, has created added value for the EU citizens and was spent in line with EU rules.

Another conclusion from those reports is that simplifying EU rules is key to making it easier for local authorities, farmers or businesses to use EU funds effectively and correctly. This ties in with the recommendations of the High Level Group on simplification, also presented today, which are feeding into the broader reflection on the future of EU finances launched by Commissioner Gnther H. Oettinger in June.

Gnther H. Oettinger, in charge of budget and human resources, said: "As the data demonstrate, the EU budget delivers concrete results, be it boosting research and innovation, supporting farmers, helping Europeans find jobs, supporting investment, fighting against climate change or providing humanitarian assistance across the world.. This is real added value that only our common EU budget can bring".

Below are some key achievements of the EU budget in 2016:

- The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists who have benefitted from EU funding. This made a total of 17 Nobel prize laureates, four Fields medal winners and countless discoveries with global impact linked to the EU's investment into research and innovation.

- About seven million farmers were supported with direct payments in 2016, 150 million was made available to compensate for the milk crises.

- More than 140 000 Small and Medium Enterprises in 21 countries received a total of 5.5 billion of loans from the COSME programme.

- 21% of the 2016 budget was devoted to fighting climate change.

- Over 120 million vulnerable people in more than 80 countries, including those most affected by the Syria crisis, received humanitarian aid worth over 2 billion.

- Hundreds of thousands lives saved in the Central Mediterranean alone with the joint efforts of EU Member States and the newly established European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

Background

The three reports mark the beginning of the annual procedure by which the European Parliament assesses the way the Commission has implemented the EU budget in 2016. At the end of that procedure the Parliament decides whether to sign off the EU's accounts or not. In addition to today's reports, the Parliament will take into account the European Court of Auditors' annual report which is expected in September 2017. The Commission has received the Parliament's approval every year since 1997, and the European Court of Auditors has found that the EU accounts to be fully reliable every year since 2007.

For More Information:

- Integrated financial reporting package - 2016 brochure

- Annual Management and Performance Report for the EU budget 2016

- EU Accounts 2016

- Commission Report on the follow-up to the discharge for the 2015 financial year

- Reflection paper on the Future of EU finances

- Follow Commissioner Oettinger on Twitter

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2016 EU budget reports: generating added value out of every euro spent - EU News

There are now 181 air carriers on the European Union Air Safety Listmeaning they are subject to an operating ban or restrictions in European skiessince the list was recently updated to remove operators based in Benin and Mozambique and to add Med-View of Nigeria, Mustique Airways of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Aviation Co. Urga of Ukraine and Air Zimbabwe.

The public list of banned and restricted air carriers was initiated by a European Commission regulation in 2006. It is periodically updatedgenerally twice a yearby a group of member-state representatives that make up the European Union Air Safety Committee.

A centralized process is used to authorize third-country operators for commercial air transport in European airspace. The system is managed by the European Aviation Safety Agency, which ensures that all approved foreign air carriers comply with minimum international safety standards, primarily those propagated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

According to the commission, the purpose of the list is two fold: helping to maintain high levels of safety in the EU while also encouraging affected countries to improve their levels of safety.

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European Union Revises List Of Banned Airlines - MRO Network

Brussels: The European Parliament's group on Brexit negotiations has made a damning assessment of British proposals on EU citizens' rights after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, a further indication of how tough the two-year negotiations are expected to become.

Representational image. Reuters

In a letter Monday to EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and seen by The Associated Press, the group said "the UK does not respect the principles of reciprocity, symmetry and non-discrimination." Furthermore, it said that under the UK proposals made on 26 June, EU citizens in Britain would be looking at "nothing less than relegation to second-class status."

Citizens' rights in each other's nations are considered the first issue that both sides must settle. Even though Barnier is leading the negotiations, the European Parliament still has a veto right on any deal.

Recently, Barnier had said that Britain cannot enjoy "frictionless" trade with EU partners after it leaves the union. He took a tough position on theBrexitnegotiations, warning there will be "negative" consequences no matter what.

He said the consequences would be even worse if the EU and Britain can't agree on departure terms, and there's no "reasonable justification" for failing to reach a deal. He insisted, however, that the EU isn't trying to punish Britain for voting to leave.

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European Union parliament condemns United Kingdom Brexit ... - Firstpost

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Parliament on Monday set itself on a collision course with Britain, making a damning assessment of British proposals on EU citizens' rights after the U.K. leaves the European Union.

The legislature indicated it would be using its power of veto on the negotiations if Britain did not become more lenient on the rights of EU citizens living in the country, a further indication of how tough the two-year negotiations are expected to become.

In a letter Monday to EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, the group said EU citizens in Britain would be looking at "nothing less than relegation to second-class status," adding that the U.K. proposals made on June 26 do not "respect the principles of reciprocity, symmetry and non-discrimination."

Citizens' rights in each other's nations are considered the first issue that both sides must settle.

"It is clear we will not approve any deal which diminishes the rights of EU citizens in the U.K. or U.K. citizens in the EU," Guy Verhofstadt, the EU Parliament's chief Brexit official, told the AP.

Even though Barnier is leading the negotiations for the EU as a whole, the European Parliament still has a veto right on any deal. So Verhofstadt's words carry power and should boost the standing of Barnier when he meets with his British counterpart David Davis next week.

British Prime Minister Theresa May had first floated her ideas on protecting the rights of each other's citizens at an EU summit in late June. The U.K. proposal offers EU nationals who have lived in Britain for at least five years - as of an unspecified cut-off date - "settled status," with the right to live, work and access benefits. The estimated 3 million EU nationals in Britain would all have to apply individually for permission to stay, and it's unclear what the plan would mean for those who have been in the U.K. for a shorter time.

The other EU leaders were halfhearted at best about what May called a "generous" offer on protecting the rights of EU citizens.

After carefully studying the details, the EU Parliament's Brexit Steering Group was much more definitive and said too much of Britain's optimistic talk was just a smoke screen. It indicated it wouldn't be good enough for the legislature.

"The rights of EU citizens in the U.K. will be reduced to a level lower than third country nationals in the EU," the letter to Barnier said.

"The aspirational language used in relation to rights as important as the right to health or the recognition of diploma and professional qualifications does not provide the much-needed guarantees."

"Above all," the four-page letter brimming with scathing comments added, EU citizens in Britain would have "no life-long protection."

The EU parliament wants citizens from both sides to receive "fair treatment" and their rights "given full priority in the negotiations."

Alongside citizens' rights, the Brexit negotiators will first have to address the substantial bill that Britain will have to pay to quit the EU and the problems surrounding the border in Ireland.

The withdrawal process of Britain from the EU should be completed by March 2019, meaning negotiators only have up to the fall of 2018 to agree, not only on the disentanglement of the country but also on setting up a new relationship.

The EU has said once there is "sufficient" progress on such withdrawal issues as the rights of citizens, it could start talks simultaneously on a new relationship and a trade deal.

The difficulties already surrounding the first issue indicate that it could become a tough job.

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European Union parliament threatens veto on Brexit over citizens' rights - 13abc Action News

The free trade agreement announced last week between the European Union and Japan looks "ominous" for the U.S. dairy industry, a key official at the International Dairy Foods Association told The Hagstrom Report.

The deal includes reductions in Japanese tariffs on European cheeses and the acceptance of a system of geographical indicators, or GIs, that require only a cheese from a place of origin can bear that location's name.

"The EU-Japan bilateral agreement could be an ominous portent for U.S. dairy exports to Japan," said Beth Hughes, the IDFA director of international affairs, in an email.

"The Department of Agriculture projects that U.S. milk production will grow by 23 percent over the next 10 year," Hughes said. "Given that today we are exporting 15 percent of our total production, there needs to be increased export opportunities for approximately 80 billion pounds of milk over the next 10 years. Bilateral agreements, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, are critical if we are to attain our future export potential and continue to support American jobs. This agreement enhances the EU as a competitor to the U.S. for dairy exports to Japan now and in the future.

"The EU is currently negotiating a deal with Mexico on GIs, concluded one with Canada last year, and now they've struck one with Japan. We still need to see all the details but we are concerned about which common food names will be affected and how that will impact U.S. cheese exports to Japan."

Publications have also noted the threat to the U.S. dairy industry as well as other sectors, including meat and wine.

The U.S. dairy industry and other sectors were big backers of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, which President Donald Trump withdrew from.

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International Dairy Foods Association: European Union, Japan trade agreement could be bad for US dairy industry - Fence Post