EU budget deal focuses on strengthening economy and responding to the refugee crisis

In the early hours of 17 November the EU institutions reached an agreement on the 2017 EU budget. As proposed by the Commission earlier this year, in 2017 the EU will spend more money on making Europe more competitive and more secure. Likewise, more money will go to support for the reception and integration of refugees and to address the root causes of migration in the countries of origin and transit. European Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva, in charge of budget and human resources, said: “We have left no stone unturned to secure the money for a budget that will work in the best interest of our people. The 2017 EU budget will thus help buffer against shocks, providing a boost to our economy and helping to deal with issues like the refugee crisis. We continue to focus our budget on results, ensuring that every euro from the EU budget will make a difference.”