Janusz Lewandowski, Financial Programming and Budget
(Poland, Christian Democrat)
Background
As a member of Poland’s opposition group under communism, Janusz Lewandowski became an active politician at the end of the Polish communist era. He served twice as Poland’s Minister of Privatisation, first in 1991 and then in 1992-3. Between 1991 and 1993, he was also a member of the Polish Parliament, and from 1997 to 2004, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Committee for State Treasury and Privatisation. Lewandowski is known in Brussels primarily as a member of the European Parliament’s Budgetary Committee (2004-2006). This experience will hopefully help him navigate the contentious and hot-button issues surrounding next year’s budget. Lewandwoski is also responsible for overseeing the development of the EU’s financial perspective beyond 2013, a challenging task in the aftermath of one of the biggest economic crisis ever.
Stated Objectives on taking office
- To ensure a smooth adoption of the 2011 budget and beyond in accordance with the rules set out by the new institutional framework deriving from the Lisbon Treaty;
- To actively manage the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in order to improve the implementation of the annual budget and respond to the upcoming challenges;
- To facilitate an inter-institutional consensus on and a smooth adoption of the next financial package, including a new and reformed MFF;
- To present the triennial revision of the Financial Regulation.
Members of the Cabinet
Marc LEMAÎTRE, Head of Cabinet
Piotr SERAFIN, Deputy Head of Cabinet
Maria José SOUSA FIALHO, Adviser, Policy Planning and Strategy
Angelika CHOMICKA , Member, Budget and Financial Programming
Andreas SCHWARZ, Member, Annual Policy Strategy, Own Resources
Przemyslaw SLOWIK, Member, Financial Regulation, Internal Control and Accounting
Marianna PARI, Member, Budget and Financial Programming, Relations with the Budgetary Authority
Main actions to date
- Presenting the Draft Budget for 2011 on April 27;
- Planning for a budget of €130 billion, an increase of almost six percent.
What to expect
The European Commission is expected to present a review of budget spending in September. The mid-term review is intended to analyse spending priorities and to assess who pays how much into the EU's budget. Part of the review will address the issue of whether the EU should introduce its own tax, possibly in the form of a new value added tax or fuel levy. Not surprisingly, there has been a lack of member state enthusiasm over this proposal, and the Commission is skeptical about the initiative’s success. In the spring of 2011, the EU will announce its spending plans for the period from 2014-2020, with the intention of reaching an agreement in 2012. Given the Commissioner’s nationality and his recent statements, it is clear that he will be looking to allocate a substantial budget share to the new member states.