Balance crisis response with predictability in next EU budget, MEPs demand

MEPs reiterate their opposition to the Commission’s “national plan” model

The EU’s agriculture and cohesion policies should be preserved

Call to maintain an independent European Social Fund

On Wednesday, MEPs stressed that cohesion and agriculture policies must remain strong and distinct in the EU’s long-term budget (MFF), ahead of next week’s Commission proposal.

Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin told MEPs “we are united in belief that EU budget has to be modernised, the world around us is changing rapidly, and new challenges require smarter responses.” This means, he said, a more flexible and simple multiannual financial framework (MFF). In the search for flexibility, predictability must be preserved as well, he added, noting that the national and regional partnership plans could help achieve that. The EU must also face the debate on new revenue sources, as from 2028 onwards, around €25 billion will be committed annually to repaying loans from the NextGenerationEU instrument. He advocated new revenues that neither overburden national budgets, nor create extensive financial obligations

Siegfried Mureșan (EPP, RO), co-rapporteur for the MFF file, said that, while the budget needs to be open to unexpected developments, it must also offer certainty to those who invest and keep the economy going, and to farmers, students, researchers and small and medium-sized enterprises. Mureșan said the “Parliament’s utmost priority is that the identity and strength of the common agriculture and cohesion policies be preserved.” This entails a distinct budget for farmers, separate legal bases for cohesion and agriculture, and a clear role for regions in cohesion policy. “You cannot have security without food security and you cannot have a competitive economy without an investment policy. This is why our traditional policies, the common agriculture policy and the cohesion policy are today more relevant than ever,” he said. Mureșan added that the EU also needs to improve its security and defence, for which only 1.2% of the previous MFF was allocated. “Our new priorities have to be security, defence, and competitiveness, and these are interlinked,” Mureșan said.

Carla Tavares (S&D, PT), co-rapporteur for the MFF file, made clear the Parliament does not welcome the approach of having a national plan per member state to manage programmes. “We will not accept an MFF without a clear, independent and strong European Social Fund,” she said, adding that Article 162 of the EU Treaty underscores that it is a key instrument to strengthen the social dimension of the EU. “Nor do we want to fragment cohesion policy, which must continue to be the EU’s main investment tool“, she said, noting that only if the current financing level is maintained can the EU stay competitive and resilient.

During the debate, MEPs also asked the Commission to focus on modernisation and reform, ensure simplification and transparency, cut bureaucracy and insist on efficiency and better spending of available resources. They insisted the new EU budget should be able to tackle current challenges in agriculture, deal with migration, protect cohesion and enhance growth without hurting employment and social standards. Some speakers insisted on involving regional and local authorities and non-profit sector institutions in budget decision-making to ensure a balanced and inclusive outcome for the benefit of EU citizens.

Others called for new own resources for the EU and increased investment, including private investment in defence, green and social objectives and infrastructure. The Commission should, in their view, take citizens’ concerns seriously and enhance the fight against poverty and climate change, support education, health and research, and boost innovation, energy and digital security.

Background

Parliament adopted its priorities on the post-2027 long-term budget during the May plenary session. The co-rapporteurs will hold a press conference on Tuesday 15 July at 09:30 in the Parliament’s press conference room in Brussels, on Parliament’s key points ahead of the Commission’s proposal expected the next day. To be adopted, the next long-term budget will need the approval of the Parliament, granted by a majority of its component members.