State of play: The negotiations on the multiannual financial framework and the recovery package
30. September 2020
This Monday (September 28th, 2020) the fourth round of negotiations on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework and the Recovery Package between the European Council and the European Parliament took place, led by the German Council Presidency. Rasmus Andresen, spokesperson on budgets for the Greens/EFA Group and one of six negotiators for the Parliament on the EU budget and Recovery Fund explains:
„The negotiations on the multiannual financial framework and the recovery package are tough. The Council is using stalling tactics and thus risks delaying funds from the recovery package. From the European Parliament’s perspective, this is irresponsible.
The rule of law mechanism proposed by the German Council Presidency is so weak that it will have no concrete effect. The German government makes it too easy for Viktor Orban and others to block any form of effective control. It is disappointing that the German Council Presidency is leaving it entirely to the European Parliament to fight for the rule of law and democracy. Our values are not negotiable. The EU must not allow itself to be blackmailed by Viktor Orban.
Negotiations on the multiannual financial framework are still progressing very slowly. The European Parliament continues to fight for the increase in programs for health, digitization and democracy. The Council must give up its blockade and work with us to strengthen these programs.
We are fighting for a strong climate component in the legislation. We need a binding climate quota of at least 30% in the EU budget. The Council and the Commission are trying to use calculation tricks and the merging the recovery package with the financial framework to whitewash their limited climate investment ambition. Due these tricks we risk ending up with a significantly lower climate quota in the last years of this budget, after the recovery package has expired. This does not do justice to the long-term task of climate protection and the socio-ecological transformation.“