Abstract
What is the role and purpose of the EU budget? The EU budget is dictated by the European Parliament. For the year 2009 the EU budget was133.8 billion. It was an increase of 2.5 percent in comparison with the 2008 budget. he EU budget aims to lead its policies. The members states want to create a more democratic, efficient, effective and responsible public administration in the Community. The main role and purpose of the EU budget is the redistribution of wealth between the Member States. This role is crucial to help maintain and stabilise those Members States that may have financial difficulties or having sudden natural disasters such as floods, fires or storms. It represents the principle solidarity amongst the EU Member States.
Identify the main priorities of budgetary spending. How has this evolved over the years? The mains priorities of budgetary spending are: griculture (Common Agricultural Policy {CAP}); which absorbs 41.4 percent of the budget and the Structural Funds, which absorbs 33 percent. Together, these two main priorities account for three quarters of the total spending of the European Union.
