12/09/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 12 September, with reference to the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF) of the EU, President Jean-Claude Juncker stressed the need to conclude an agreement before the European elections of May 2019 (see EUROPE 12084). “By then, we should also have brokered an agreement in principle on the EU budget after 2020”, he said. He went on to say that “if we want to give young Europeans the opportunity to make the most of our Erasmus programme – which we must – then we must decide on this aspect, amongst others, of the budget (…) before the elections”. He referred to other budgetary priorities: researchers, defence spending and investments in Africa. (LC)