EU spending should rise by 8%

Strasbourg - EU spending should increase by 8% next year, the European Parliament said Wednesday, setting the stage for a new budget showdown in the bloc.

The legislature has repeatedly sparred with EU governments over the bloc's budgets, with member states seeking to rein in expenditures while parliamentarians have advocated more generous spending.

The European Commission, the European Union's executive, has proposed that the bloc spend €142.1bn ($180bn) in 2015 - an increase of almost 5% from the €135.5bn budget approved for this year.

EU budgets are funded mainly by contributions from member states. Most of the money then flows back into the 28 countries, providing support for everything from agricultural subsidies to research and education.

EU governments have already said that they want the 2015 budget to be slimmer, proposing €140bn in spending or an increase of only 3.3%.

They pointed out Wednesday that member states need to "consolidate their public finances in order to put their national budgets on a sustainable basis" and also warned that the overall economic situation is "fragile."

The parliament nevertheless voted Wednesday to seek €146.4bn in spending for next year.

"The EU budget can give a push to national budgets and encourage growth and employment," said lawmaker Eider Gardiazabal, who is shepherding the budget file through parliament.

"Our priorities are the same as those of the (EU governments') council, but the council does not want to finance them," she added.

The two sides will now have to negotiate a compromise. If they fail to strike a deal by November 17, the commission will have to prepare a new budget proposal.

 - Sapa-DPA