Yesterday (18/12/2007 ) at the European Parliament in Brussels was placed the official signature of the EU budget for the year 2008, for a total sum of 129.1 billion Euro, (+ 2.2% compared to 2007, representing 1.03% of the Community’s Gdp). For the first time in the history of the Community, agricultural policy – the recipient of 40% of the funds – is not the main beneficiary, since most of the funds have been allocated to a package of measures “to make economic growth more dynamic and strengthen cohesion between the Twenty-seven Countries of the Union” which represent 45% of expenses envisaged for next year. Compared to last year, the sum allocated for economic development is three times greater. In particular, over 11 billion Euro were set aside for measures in favour of competitiveness, while EU institutions devoted over 6 billion supported by new increased financing in environment, energy and transport sectors. A large investment – 46.9 billion Euro from Structural and Cohesion funds – was put in those measures aimed at incentivating employment growth at regional level.
