European Parliament
Keith Taylor  (Verts/ALE ),
in writing.
I did not support the vote to approve Parliament’s resolution on the 2013 EU Budget.
Although there were measures within the budget I did support, the overall budget’s net increase of 6.8% over the 2012 levels at a time when states all over the EU are imposing austerity measures is something I cannot condone.
I have previously voted to limit additional Member State contributions to the rate of inflation, and suggest a reappraisal of spending priorities for specific budget lines with any unspent money reallocated.
Such funds could also be used to meet extra commitments resulting from new post-Treaty of Lisbon measures. A favourite area for funding cuts is the billions of euros spent on the ITER nuclear fusion budget. I believe this selective approach to be a more appropriate method for directing spending in times of financial hardship, rather than approving across-the-board blanket percentage increases.

