"We acknowledge the effort made by the Commission in honouring the declaration on payment by presenting a Draft Amending Budget in 'early spring', but we think that this is not enough, this can only be a first step and that more payments will be needed to properly implement the 2013 budget," said Giovanni La Via MEP, EU Budget Rapporteur.

"So, it is confirmed: the European Union is at risk of finding itself in payment default before the end of 2013. The EU Treaty forbids it. The Parliament won't accept it. At a time when the EU is suffering from a credibility deficit, no one would take us seriously if we were to decide on the budget for the next seven years without being able to pay the bills for the current year," said Alain Lamassoure, Chairman of the European Parliament Budgets Committee.

For further information:
Giovanni LA VIA MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845217
Alain LAMASSOURE MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845706
Francesco Frapiccini , EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-473-941652
Marion Jeanne , EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-479-840293

Notes to Editors:
The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 270 Members and 3 Croatian Observer Members.