In today’s vote in the European Parliament’s committee on budgets, the Socialists and Democrats succeeded in achieving a majority for the report on a revamped long-term EU budget post-2027 to meet the challenges of our changing world. The current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027 budget was drafted in 2019 in a totally different world before the Covid-19 pandemic, the spike of energy prices and the full-scale Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the S&D Group, it is clear the next MFF has to be different and bigger.
We have to fund priorities that help us tackle challenges from both inside and outside the Union. To name only a few of the priorities for our group – we want people and regions at the centre of the next MFF. Social, economic and territorial cohesion is a must for a more competitive and resilient Europe. The EU budget has to focus on social cohesion, tackling inequalities, fostering employment security, and the creation of quality of jobs and professional resilience in a changing world. Our group is also sending an important signal to the Commission and the member states - around 20 million children in the Union are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. This is unacceptable and we demand a dedicated budget within the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to support the European Child Guarantee as a central pillar of the EU anti-poverty strategy. At the same time, the Union must tackle challenges in the areas of security, defence and preparedness, which are essential pillars for a healthy, just and prosperous society.
In order to achieve these priorities, the next MFF must have significantly increased resources compared to the current amounts to allow us to do what we need to in order to support our citizens in the face of increased social and economic instability. The Socialists and Democrats call for new genuine own resources to ensure not only the sustainable repayment of borrowing, but also to guarantee Europe’s ability to react to crises and respond to citizens’ needs. The S&Ds also insist that new joint borrowing should be available to ensure that the Union has sufficient resources to provide a collective response to the myriad of challenges we are facing.
The S&D Group underlines that the upcoming proposal by the European Commission on the next MFF should keep a high level of ambition when it comes to the green and digital transition, as well as the role the EU wants to play in a changing world by showing the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine and the need to increase humanitarian aid to those most in need around the world.
The next step is the vote on the report on 7 May during the European Parliament’s plenary session.
The Socialists and Democrats call on the Commission to take our priorities on board when it drafts its legislative proposal to be negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council.
Carla Tavares, leading co-negotiator on the next MFF, said:
“The next MFF must promote a stronger social Europe by strengthening the European Pillar of Social Rights, modernising and decentralising cohesion policy aiming at a more sustainable, competitive and fair economy and society. At the same time, it must tackle challenges such as the green transition, as well as security, defence and preparedness, which are essential pillars for a healthy and prosperous society. In addition, an ambitious budget must explore new and modernised sources of revenue, including joint borrowing, to ensure that the Union is sufficiently equipped to respond to its citizens’ needs.”
