The EU Budget, in not matching up to the EU's' objectives, fails to provide sufficiently for the European Common Good, concludes the Church of England House of Bishops' Europe Panel in a submission to the European Commission's Budget Review exercise calling for a greener Budget.

Drawing on the Church's understanding of stewardship, the panel of bishops argues: "The dislocation between the stated aims and objectives of the EU and current budgetary allocations threaten the public legitimacy and credibility of the European project." Rather than using the EU Budget to sustain outdated industries and sectors that too often serve narrowly construed national interests, the submission recommends: "Faced by the global challenge of climate change, the EU budget should be refocused in support of low carbon growth both within the EU's borders and beyond." The bishops suggest that "a restructured budget would help to respond to the competitiveness concerns of a number of member states and reinforce the EU's position as the global front-runner on low carbon growth." They go on to argue that "introducing a greener budget would have the wider support of EU citizens and would help to renew the EU's raison d'être."Item from: The Church of England