Guy VERHOFSTADT confirmed today during a Strasbourg plenary debate the Liberals and Democrats' support for the European Commission proposals on the Post-2013 Multiannual Financial Framework. The ALDE President particularly welcomed the proposal on own resources, which was one of the requests that the group had formulated in 2009 to support the nomination of José Manuel Barroso. "We are grateful that he has kept his promise," said Verhofstadt

"These proposals are clearly a good basis for discussion. Firstly, because we are returning to the spirit of the Treaty of Rome. Secondly, because the Commission supports the proposal of the Parliament to convene an inter-parliamentary conference to ensure that national MPs and MEPs, along with government representatives, work together to develop a joint project for the EU budget" he said welcoming the Council's Polish Presidency that announced its intention to launch the conference this autumn.

"What is needed now is action, because we are just getting started" said Guy Verhofstadt. "We still have to convince public opinion that the arguments by some to oppose these proposals are misleading. For example, to claim that with the own resources system, citizens will pay more, is completely false. On the contrary it means the advancement of the democratic process since not one more cent will be asked of taxpayers and in return these same citizens will gain increased control over the EU. "

For his part, Carl Haglund (Svenska folkpartiet, Finland), ALDE coordinator for the special committee on policy challenges and budgetary resources for a sustainable European Union after 2013 (SURE), said: "This proposal is a good start for the negotiations. We still however need to seek reallocations within the budget in order to be credible if and when we increase the budget."

Anne Jensen (Venstre, Denmark), ALDE Coordinator on the Budget Committee concluded: "The Commission's proposals are consistent with a more sustainable economy weaker in fossil fuels. I welcome the fact that substantial resources will be made available to finance investments in infrastructure, education, training, research, innovation. "