Long-term EU budget and Own Resources: statements by Parliament’s negotiators 

Sajtóközlemény 
 
 

Following today’s final trilateral talks on future EU financing, the members of the EP’s negotiating team have issued the following statements.

Statement by Johan Van Overtveldt (ECR, BE), Chair of the Committee on Budgets:


“The shift towards more research and innovation, with a focus on entrepreneurship, which began with the redesigned 2020 European budget, will now also be continued in the MFF. This shift is imperative for our growth, job creation and competitiveness.


The conclusion of these negotiations means the European Recovery Plan can finally be activated. This fund is very important to get through the crisis, but it stands or falls with its use. The resources need to get to where they are actually needed. Here too the European Union must prove its credibility.


I would like to thank the various delegations for their efforts and constructive cooperation, and I call on the European Council to take responsibility for ratifying the agreement reached.”


Statement by Jan Olbrycht (EPP, PL), MFF co-rapporteur:


“Europe urgently needs a good plan to protect people’s health and the economy. That is why it is so important to prepare the EU budget for the next seven years. The European Parliament achieved historic results, not only by securing additional funding for future-oriented programmes, but also by ensuring the long-term budget is flexible. The EU budget will help in the economic recovery after the pandemic but will also be more effective when we need to react in unforeseen circumstances.”


Statement by Margarida Marques (S&D, PT), MFF co-rapporteur:


“For the first time, the European Parliament achieved an agreement that increases the MFF ceilings, resulting in an MFF larger than in the EUCO agreement.


This means more money for programmes that are important to all Europeans, like health, research, Erasmus, Creative Europe, humanitarian aid and NDICI. There are more resources to support those most impacted by the crisis, future generations and to defend EU rights and values. We value the long-term policies of the Union that will persist after the pandemic. Those are crucial for a sustainable and inclusive recovery!


The European Parliament has come out of these negotiations with a stronger role in the Next Generation EU. An important achievement to increase transparency and democratic accountability.”


Statement by José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, PT), Own Resources co-rapporteur:


“Today we reached an historic agreement on the financing of the European policies in 2021-2027. This agreement paves the way for the next MFF, as well as to the Recovery Plan NGEU. We will create new sources of revenue without overcharging EU citizens. This is remarkable!


Parliament, Council and Commission recognise that the basket of new own resources will be sufficient to cover the costs of the Next Generation EU. This basket will not reduce EU programmes and funds and will not overcharge European citizens.


The new own resources will be aligned with EU priorities such as the fight against climate change, the circular economy and Europe fit for a digital era, while contributing to fair taxation and strengthening the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion.”


Statement by Valérie Hayer (RENEW, FR), Own Resources co-rapporteur:


“32 years after the last own resource was introduced, the EU is now determined to renew its whole financing system. We have just reversed the course of history towards a less intergovernmental Europe. This is a historic moment.”


Statement by Rasmus Andresen (Greens/EFA, DE):


“The next long-term budget will deliver on climate and biodiversity. 30% of the budget will be spent on climate. By implementing the do-no-harm principle, we will have a strong tool to kick climate-harming projects out of the European budget. The European Parliament fought successfully for a biodiversity spending target, which will be implemented after the European institutions have worked in close cooperation on a biodiversity methodology in the coming years. We have just few years to solve the climate crisis and save nature. The agreement is a start towards a European climate budget.”