On Thursday 3 May, MEPs on the committee on budgets of the European Parliament asked to be given the right figures (2018 prices) for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) of the EU, to allow them to make the necessary comparisons between the current MFF and the next one (see EUROPE 12013).
The chair of Parliament's committee on budgets, Jean Arthuis (ALDE, France), suggested holding technical meetings early next week between MEPs and European Commission officials to determine a method to “work on the basis of the 2018-value figures and therefore make comparisons” between the figures for the 2014-2020 MFF and those of the 2021-2027 version.
The Commissioner for the Budget, Günther Oettinger, promised that the Commission had no wish to fudge the numbers. He said that the MEPs had lists with current and constant prices for the MFF. He undertook to provide figures for the EU of 27, even though this will not be easy to do.
Showing flexibility. On the forthcoming negotiations, Oettinger called on the decision-makers to show flexibility. “Some are more interested in research or agriculture; but if everybody digs their heels in, we will never get to the end. If everybody defends interests with enough flexibility, we will finish the exercise satisfactorily”, the Budget Commissioner said.
Jan Olbrycht (EPP, Poland), the rapporteur on the MFF, stressed that conditionality should not penalise the end beneficiary of the funds.
Isabelle Thomas (S&D, France) said that the battle was only just beginning.
Janusz Lewandowski (EPP, Poland) said that Parliament would help the Commission to reform the 'revenue' side of the EU budget and José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, Portugal) said that the envelope for the cohesion policy “should not be touched”. “What will states and regions have? Well, that will depend on the implementing regulations you will have at the end of May”, Commissioner Oettinger replied. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)