European Liberals and Democrats today have called for budgetary realism, during the public debate in the European Parliament on the mandate to bring to the trialogue for 2013. For ALDE, realism means seizing the opportunity of this final year of the current financial framework to initiate investments in the EU 2020 Strategy, whose political goals shape the next multiannual financial framework.

Alexander Alvaro (FDP, Germany), spokesman of the ALDE 2013 budget, said in a plenary session: "This is the last year before the next multiannual financial framework and the European Parliament will place its emphasis on the 2020 Agenda goals and propose funding to promote jobs and growth. Investment is a crucial component of spurring this growth and we want to invest particularly in areas that will help the EU's global standing, both where growth is needed and already happening. We should focus on promoting research and innovation, making market access especially for start-up and SMEs in the knowledge economy easier. This is why we support a strategy that invests wisely and reduces red tape and administrative budgetary burdens. Now is the time for smart budgeting and shifting funds to where they bring the most added value."

Jan Mulder, ALDE coordinator in the Parliamentary Committee on Budgets, added "ALDE welcomes the proposed freeze in commitment appropriations as there are unused funds which exceed €200 billion, which will substantially grow in the future. It is urgent to close the gap between commitment and payment appropriations. Unfortunately the Council has not seriously considered tackling this problem in the course of the 2013 budgetary procedure so far, refusing to participate in meetings to resolve it."