The Capacity of the European Union to Finance Public Policies: Multi-Annual Financial Frameworks in Comparative Perspective

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Published: Sep 11, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/rp.21152
Keywords:
Budget continuity European Union Multi-annual Financial Framework punctuated equilibrium
Giorgio Oikonomou
University of the Peloponnese
Elias Natsios
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Konstandinos Kazantzis
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Abstract

This paper aims at examining the fi scal capacity of the EU by focusing on the Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFFs). Taking into consideration the policy areas fi nanced by the EU budget, the analysis draws on the MFFs 2007-2013 and 2014-2020, and compares them with the proposed by the Commission MFF 2021-2027. The main objective is to shed light on the evolution of the MFFs by utilizing empirical data, fi nancial reports, and other policy papers. Drawing on the historical institutionalism literature, the main hypothesis is that the evolution of the MFFs follows an incremental path, and no substantial change whatsoever is observed with regard to the fi scal capacity of the EU; however, the ongoing negotiations with regard to the MFF 2021-2027 can be considered as critical, due to the fact that they can produce punctuated dynamics and discontinuities, thus change, with regard to the available financial resources for specific policy fields.

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Author Biographies
Giorgio Oikonomou, University of the Peloponnese

Adjunct Lecturer

Elias Natsios, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

PhD Candidate

Konstandinos Kazantzis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

PhD Candidate

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