This booklet, published for the general public by the Commission in 2000, sets out the financing of the European Union, the use of the Community budget, the budgetary procedure and the way in which the EU ensures the proper and efficient management of expenditure.

In an article published in the French daily newspaper Le Monde on 27 March 2007, Nicolas-Jean Brehon, Deputy Head of Research at the EDHEC Business School, considers the development of the Community budget and its role over the past 50 years.

In 2007, the European Commission publishes a brochure which provides answers to a number of questions on the budget and financial planning of the European Union.

Financial Regulation (73/91/CECA, CEE, EURATOM) of 25 April 1973 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

Commission Regulation of 30 June 1975 on measures of implementation of certain provisions of the Financial Regulation of 25 April 1973 (75/375/Euratom, ECSC, EEC).

Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

Commission regulation of 11 December 1986 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of certain provisions of the financial regulation of 21 December 1977 (86/610/EEC, Euratom, ECSC).

Commission regulation (EURATOM, ECSC, EC) No 3418/93 of 9 December 1993 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of certain provisions of the Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977.

Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, as last amended on 9 April 2001 (consolidated version). This Regulation is repealed by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

On 30 October 2001, the Commission proposes an amendment to its proposal for an integral revision of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

On 25 June 2002, the Council adopts the new Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities. This entirely recast Regulation enters into force on 1 January 2003.

Commission regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/ 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1995/2006 of 13 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1525/2007 of 17 December 2007 amending Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

In this interview excerpt, Joseph Weyland, Legation Secretary and Delegate in the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the European Communities in Brussels in 1972, discusses his appointment to these posts in connection with the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Communities from January to June 1972. He was in charge of the Budget Committee and was involved in the establishment of a Financial Regulation for the European Communities.

On 19 September 1950, representatives from the Governments of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the Commandant of the Anglo-American Zone of the free territory of Trieste sign in Paris the Agreement on the establishment of a European Payments Union (EPU).

Since the ECSC was first established in 1952, its budget has been denominated in units of account, the same as those of the European Payments Union.

On 5 August 1955, in Paris, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom sign the European Monetary Agreement (EMA) intended to replace the European Payments Union (EPU) in early 1959.

On 5 August 1955, in Paris, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom adopt the Protocol of Provisional Application of the European Monetary Agreement (EMA) intended to replace the European Payments Union (EPU) in early 1959.

On 27 June 1958, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom adopt a number of technical amendments to the European Monetary Agreement (EMA).

On 21 January 1959, the High Authority decides that the definition of the unit of account as used in ECSC texts should be the same as the accounting unit of the European Monetary Agreement with effect from 27 December 1958.

Given that the European Monetary Agreement fell into abeyance on 31 December 1972, the Commission decides, on 19 December 1973, on a new definition of the unit of account to be used for the application of the ECSC Treaty.

Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 3308/80 of 16 December 1980 on the replacement of the European unit of account by the ECU in Community legal instruments.

Financial Regulation of 16 December 1980 amending the Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 as regards the use of the ecu in the general budget of the European Communities.

Council Regulation (EC, ECSC, Euratom) No 2779/98 of 17 December 1998 amending the Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 in order to take into account the introduction of the euro as a single currency.

On 19 June 2001, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses the budgetary consequences of a federal Europe. Among other things, a federal budget structure would contravene one of the general budgetary principles of the Union: the principle of equilibrium.

Structure and presentation of the budget.

Table showing transfers between chapters made in 2004.