ALDE welcomes the positive outcome of the 2012 budgetary procedure which confirms the initial analysis that the EU budget should both comply with the rigor that affects all national budgets, and participate in investment needed for future growth, including R & D, education and training.

Anne Jensen (Venstre, Denmark), ALDE Coordinator for the Budget Committee, said: "It is important that the level of payments reflects the EU's objectives. It is therefore encouraging that the Member States are committed to correct the current budget if the level used for payment appropriations should be too low. Without prejudging the needs, I simply note that at the end of 2010, the amount of current commitments had already reached 194 billion euros. "

Carl Haglund (Svenska Folkpartiet, Finland), ALDE shadow rapporteur for the 2012 general budget, continued: "For Liberals and Democrats in Europe, the main goal was to save the 2020 Strategy threatened by cuts done by the Council. Our priorities for research, competitiveness, innovation and lifelong learning, are sufficiently addressed. We also welcome the increase foreseen for Frontex and the mobilization of the flexibility instrument to finance the Arab spring ".

Alexander Alvaro (FDP, Germany), ALDE shadow rapporteur for the budget of other institutions, concluded: "If everyone is tightening its belt in Europe, the European institutions must do the same. This is especially true in the European Parliament where we have identified significant savings on operating costs. Despite the new tasks resulting from the Lisbon Treaty, and thanks to internal redeployment and restructuring, we can both work in good conditions while saving 74 million in travel costs, translation and interpretation, energy consumption and members' expenses."