On Monday 6 March, the committee on budgets of the European Parliament expressed hopes that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU will make it possible to get rid of all systems of compensation and budgetary rebates, rather than just the British one.
In its adoption (with 28 votes in favour, three against and four abstentions) of the report by Siegfried Mureşan (EPP, Romania) on preparations for the negotiations on the 2018 budget, which could be the last one between 28 member states, Parliament's committee on budgets points out that by the end of 2017, the European Commission is to present its proposals on the multi-annual financial framework for the post-2020 period, “which should take into account the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU” (see EUROPE 11721). Brexit will have an impact on the post-2020 MFF, the report reiterates, stressing that this decision “makes it impossible to proceed with business as usual” when it comes to the EU budget.
A five-year MFF? The MEPs highlighted the need to bring the duration of the MFF into line with the political cycles of Parliament and the Commission (which would mean moving over to a term of five years, rather than seven at the moment). They stress that Brexit will provide an opportunity to “address long-standing issues which prevented the EU budget from reaching its real potential”, especially as regards the revenue side of the budget, “in order to phase out all rebates and correction mechanisms”.
Reform of the EU's system of financing. The MEPs reiterate their position in favour of an in-depth reform of the own resources of the EU. The recommendations of the high-level group on own resources are welcomed. The MEPs call upon all parties concerned to draw the appropriate conclusions from the report of this high-level group and to analyse the feasibility of implementing recommendations that will help to make the EU budget “more stable, simple and fair”. The MEPs take the view that any new own resource must have the effect of reducing the GNI (gross national income) contributions of the member states. The budget committee argues that the EU budget should focus on areas presenting the greatest European added value and that it is time to put an end to the 'juste retour' approach. All member states, in fact, benefit from the EU budget, irrespective of their 'net balance' (the difference between what they pay into the EU budget and what they take out of it), the budget committee stresses.
Swift adoption of mid-term revision. The MEPs call for the mid-term revision of the current MFF to be concluded positively and swiftly, in order to anticipate the necessary adjustments to the MFF and to give the EU budget additional flexibility, which is vital in order to achieve the EU's objectives.
Growth and managing migration flows take priority. The report lists Parliament's priorities for 2018: growth and employment, particularly tackling youth unemployment, managing migration and climate change. The EU budget must be given the tools it needs to deal with multiple crises, the committee on budgets stresses. Lastly, it calls for increased financial support in favour of the EU agencies and funds aiming to attenuate the effects of the refugee crisis and reiterates its commitment to the principle of burden-sharing between the member states of the EU when it comes to paying for the necessary efforts to host the refugees adequately. The report is expected to be adopted at the plenary session of Parliament to be held in Strasbourg on Thursday 16 March. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)