Cash promise puts EFSA budget freeze on ice

Fears that the European Food Safety Authority would not be able to meet its commitments next year after a budget freeze have been allayed following news that more cash may be available.

Speaking after a meeting of EFSA's management board, a spokeswoman said she was now hopeful that EFSA's budget would not be frozen at euro 48M next year, as originally feared.

She said: “It's all under discussion, but it now seems we might get £57.8M.” This was more than euro 4M short of the euro 62M it had hoped for, but a good compromise, she added.

Her comments came as EFSA unveiled an action plan outlining its response to an official evaluation of its progress by Bureau van Dijk Management Consultants and Arcadia International.

This praised EFSA's scientific excellence but noted that, like all young organisations, EFSA was “suffering from growing pains” and needed “to carefully assess its internal structures and procedures”.

One solution being mooted to tackle high staffing costs and travel expenses generated by locating the authority in Parma, was setting up a “small functional office” in Brussels, she added.

“We're also looking at alternative possibilities for expert meetings through video conferencing or tele-working schemes.”

The European Commission was considering the feasibility of EFSA's charging fees for its services, she added. “But this will take time. It will have to go out for public consultation, then through a period of debate and discussion, and then through the co-decision procedure in the European Parliament and Council.”

EFSA was set up to provide independent scientific advice, information and risk assessment in food and feed safety. However, the responsibility for risk management lies with the European Commission, Parliament and Council.