• EU. Sassoli: "Concerned about European solidarity and the Community method"

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23 July 2020 Free from the EU Parliament to the non-legislative resolution on the conclusions of the European Council of 17-21 July in which the agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is requested to be improved in the next negotiations, the cuts are defined as unacceptable, while considering the Recovery Fund a "historic move". With 465 yes, 150 no and 67 abstentions, the European Parliament underlines that the EU's long-term priorities, such as the Green Deal and the Digital Agenda, are at risk and that it will not give its approval to the MFF without an agreement on the reform of the EU own resources.

The result of the vote was announced by President David Sassoli. In the approved text, which will serve as a mandate for the forthcoming negotiations on the future financing and recovery of the EU, Parliament welcomes the European leaders' approval of the recovery fund proposed by Parliament last May, calling it a "historic move for the EU". However, MEPs regretted "the substantial cuts made to the subsidy component" and called for Parliament's full democratic involvement in the instrument for recovery which at the moment "does not attribute a formal role to Members elected to the European Parliament". 

On the EU's long-term budget (Multiannual Financial Framework - MFF), MEPs criticize the cuts made to future-oriented programs because they "will undermine the foundations of a sustainable and resilient recovery". EU flagship programs on climate, digital transition, health, youth, culture, infrastructure, research, border management and solidarity are at risk of "an immediate drop in funding from 2020 to 2021". Furthermore, by 2024, "the EU budget as a whole will be below 2020 levels, jeopardizing the EU's commitments and priorities". 

Parliament "deeply regrets" the fact that the European Council has significantly weakened the efforts of the Commission and Parliament to defend the rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy in the framework of the MFF and the recovery plan. He also stressed that the rule of law regulation would be adopted according to the co-decision procedure, therefore with an agreement between ministers and Members. MEPs reiterate that Parliament will not give its approval to the MFF without an agreement on the reform of the EU's own resources system, which includes the introduction of a basket of new resources by the end of MFF 2021-2027, needed to cover at least the costs relating to the refund of Next Generation Ee. Finally, Parliament calls for a mid-term review of the MFF by the end of 2024. This review should cover the ceilings for the period 2025-2027, the introduction of additional own resources and the implementation of the climate and biodiversity objectives.