On 11 December 2018, the Council endorsed the agreement reached with the European Parliament on the EU budget for 2019. The total commitments are set at €165.8 billion, which is an increase of 3.2% compared with the 2018 budget as amended over the past months. Payments amount to €148.2 billion, 2.4% more than in 2018. Leeway of €1.3 billion is left available under the ceilings of the multiannual financial framework to allow the EU to react to unforeseen events and needs. ''This is a solid budget which boosts support for the EU's priorities, ensures strong European added value and keeps sufficient margins in case new needs arise next year. It will help to effectively manage migration, benefit researchers and young people, and support economic growth across Europe.'', says Hartwig Löger, minister for finance of Austria and chief Council negotiator for the 2019 EU budget Continued focus on growth and young people: To support growth and job creation, commitments of €23.3 billion were agreed under subheading 1a (competitiveness for growth and jobs), which is 6.1% more than in 2018. This includes a strong boost for Horizon 2020, which gets €12.3 billion to support research and innovation, an increase of 9.8% on 2018. The Connecting Europe Facility is also reinforced, receiving €3.8 billion to fund infrastructure projects across Europe (37.0% more than in 2018). €367 million (+3.7%) are allocated to COSME to provide support for small and medium-sized enterprises. In line with the EU's priorities, young people will also benefit from more opportunities. [...] Strengthened support for migration management and security In the field of migration and security, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund is considerably strengthened, with €1.1 billion allocated to migration management (+55.9% compared with 2018). The Internal Security Fund will receive €534 million. Additional funds are earmarked for several agencies in charge of responding to the current migration and security challenges, such as Frontex, European Asylum Support Office, Europol and eu-LISA. In line with the agreement reached between the member states in June 2018, the 2019 EU budget will contribute €1.45 billion to the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey to support Syrian refugees with essentials such as healthcare and schooling. This comes on top of other funds supporting the external dimension of migration. Other key elements In order to help the EU move towards its climate targets, the 2019 EU budget also reinforces environmental and climate action, with €558 million made available under the LIFE programme, 6.7% more than in 2018.
Source: consilium.europa.eu