MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Review of the Irish Presidency, including the MFF agreement – Council and Commission statement
1.7.2013 - (2012/2799(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Gabriele Zimmer on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
B7‑0335/2013
European Parliament resolution on the Review of the Irish Presidency, including the MFF agreement – Council and Commission statement
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Articles 310, 311, 312 and 323 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),
– having regard to the Communication from the Commission of 29 June 2011 on a Budget for Europe 2020 (COM(2011)0500),
– having regard to the Commission’s proposal of 29 June 2011 for an Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on cooperation in budgetary matters and sound financial management (COM(2011)0403),
– having regard to the Commission proposal of 29 June 2011 and the amended Commission proposal of 6 July 2012 for a Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (COM(2011)0398 and COM(2012)0388),
– having regard to its resolution of 8 June 2011 entitled ‘Investing in the future: a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe’[1],
– having regard to its resolution of 13 June 2012 on the Multiannual Financial Framework and own resources[2],
– having regard to its resolution of 23 October 2012 in the interests of achieving a positive outcome of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 approval procedure[3],
– having regard to the conclusions of the European Council adopted on 8 February 2013,
– having regard to the European Parliament resolution adopted on 13 March 2013,
– having regard to the European Council conclusions adopted on the 27 June 2013,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
1. Regrets the European Council’s conclusions on the MFF – which disregard the European Parliament resolutions of 23 October 2012 and of 13 March 2013 – and deeply rejects the secretive, undemocratic procedure which lead to the statements of the President of the European Parliament, on the 27 June, without prior consultation with all political groups in the European Parliament; regrets the European Council disregard for the Parliament’s role and competences as set out in the Treaty of Lisbon;
2. In this regard also condemns the role of the Irish Presidency in its undemocratic method of negotiating the MFF agreement. Believes that the Irish Presidency was driven more by the desire to deliver any deal within the six months period to suit its domestic political agenda. This was demonstrated in the Presidency announcing a deal in advance of any agreement being made and thereby ignoring the concerns of European Parliament negotiators. Draws the conclusion that the Irish Presidency’s theme of ‘jobs, growth and stability’ is in no way reflected in the MFF agreement, which is instead consistent with the austerity policy the Irish government is conducting at home;
3. Rejects this agreement, as it does not reflect any of the priorities and concerns that could contribute to a turn-around in the current social, economic and financial crisis that could obviate the current social emergency situation existing in so many EU Member States; regrets that none of the substantial objectives was achieved;
4. Believes that this agreement, which will bind the Union for the next seven years, and the measures of the European Council, the European Commission, the European Central bank and the International Monetary Fund to fight the social, economic and financial crisis will only bring about a dramatic increase in unemployment, deep wage cuts, a higher pension age, lower public spending in areas such as research, innovation, education and health;
5. Underlines the failure of the negotiations with the Council on all provisions of the MFF Regulation and the Interinstitutional Agreement, which were supposed to ensure that the Union would be provided with a modern, forward-looking, flexible and transparent EU budget that would deliver growth and decent jobs and bridge the gap between the EU’s political commitments and budgetary means; underlines that it will vote against the vote on the MFF Regulation and the Interinstitutional Agreement;
6. Reiterates the view that the MFF for 2014-2020 should ensure the successful implementation of cohesion and integration policies without applying any macro-economic conditionalities, the promotion of growth and decent employment and endow the EU with the necessary means to recover from the crisis and come out stronger; stresses, therefore, the importance of substantially increasing its investments in innovation, research and development, infrastructure and youth, combatting poverty, meeting the EUs climate change and energy objectives, improving education and promoting social inclusion;
7. Denounces the lack of transparency in the way the political agreement was reached by the European Council on both the expenditure and the revenue side of the MFF; insists that it must have all relevant information at the disposal of the Commission on the level of agreed national allocations under cohesion and agricultural policies, including the derogations and specific allocations to each Member State; also requests all relevant information on the impact per Member State of the decisions taken on the revenue side of the MFF;
8. Strongly opposes the current accumulation and rollover of outstanding payment claims in the EU budget, and expresses its firm opposition to a financial framework that will keep the EU budget in a structural deficit, against the provisions of the Treaty (Articles 310 and 323 TFEU); recalls the declaration annexed to the EU Budget 2013 calling for the Commission to present, at an early stage in the year 2013, a Draft Amending Budget devoted to the sole purpose of covering all unpaid payment claims for 2012; deeply regrets that negotiations on the MFF are concluded before the final adoption by Council and Parliament of this Amending Budget; recalls then European Parliament demand for a political engagement from the Council that all legal obligations due in 2013 will be paid out by the end of this year;
9. Recalls that if no MFF has been adopted by the end of 2013, the ceilings and other provisions corresponding to 2013 will be extended until such time as a new MFF is adopted; signals that, in this case, it would be ready to reach a swift agreement with the Council and Commission to adapt the internal structure of the MFF to reflect the Union’s political priorities, and to ensure that the appropriate legal bases are in place for all EU policies and programmes by 2014;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the other institutions and bodies concerned.
- [1] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0266.
- [2] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0245.
- [3] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0360.