It will be difficult to conclude an agreement on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027 of the EU before the European elections of May 2019, Javier Doz Orit (workers' group, Spain), the rapporteur of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on this dossier, said in Brussels on Wednesday 19 September (see EUROPE 12098).
However, Doz Orrit considers that such an agreement is necessary before the European Parliament elections, but that the task is likely to be extremely difficult due to the differences in the positions of the EU countries and the packed agenda of the Sibiu summit under the Romanian Presidency, which will take position on EMU reform, amongst other things. There is a “huge difference between countries on the 2017-2021 MFF”, he acknowledged, adding that France and Germany have not yet taken position on the timetable.
Coming into line with the European Parliament's position. Following a debate on Wednesday attended by Günther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for the Budget, the EESC adopted its opinion on the 2021-2027 MFF, which lines up with the European Parliament's position. Doz Orrit is of the opinion that the EU is experiencing a profound political crisis.
He explained that the Commission's proposals on the 2021-2027 MFF are not ambitious enough (€1135 billion for the period from 2021 to 2027, corresponding to 1.1% of the gross national income of the EU of 27). The EESC proposes a “strong and ambitious” budget, with spending and revenue standing at 1.3% of GNI.
He opposes the proposed cuts to the budgets of the traditional policies (€100 billion less for cohesion and the CAP): -12% (in constant prices) for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), -46% for the Cohesion, -6% for the European Social Fund (ESF+) and -15% for the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
The EESC takes the view that the current funding of the cohesion policies (i.e. the ERDF, Cohesion Fund and ESF) should be kept as they are in the 2021-2027 MFF, at least with the same resources in constant prices.
It also welcomes the proposal for a raft of new resources, approves of the proposed abolition of rebates (or "cheques") and supports the proposal to award EU funds to member states on the condition of respecting the independence of the legal system (it considers that this condition could be extended to other principles of the rule of law set out in the EU Treaties).
Brexit. The opinion does not take position on the possibility of a programme to remedy the economic consequences of Brexit. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)