In his last speech to the Committee of the Regions on Tuesday 8 October, Günther Oettinger, the outgoing Budget Commissioner, gave a budget range of between 8 and 12 billion euros for the future Just Transition Fund.
"We must discuss the means with the States. I believe we need 8 to 12 billion euros over seven years", he announced to the members of the Committee of the Regions. "But, if possible, this should not come from cohesion policy, but should be anchored in the budget as a complement", he said.
During his speech, Mr Oettinger made one point: for him, this Just Transition Fund should not only focus on coal-mining regions in transition, but also on "relocating jobs" and "investing in the future". The reason for this approach is simple, according to the German Commissioner: it would be unjust if Member States - citing Spain - that have already made efforts to get out of coal did not benefit from the Fund, while those that have not yet done so could benefit.
Aid to Africa at risk, not cohesion policy
In general, the Commissioner noted the inextricable situation of the budgetary negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) (see other news) ahead of the October European Council, which he said would resolve the squaring of the circle.
He expects that at the end of the negotiations on the next MFF, the reductions envisaged by his services will be reduced by the Member States, both in agricultural policy (as a reminder, he proposes a 5% reduction compared to the current budget) and cohesion policy (7%, according to the Commissioner, but rather 10% in practice). However, while maintaining the new priorities in defence and border protection, the overall European budget is also likely to be revised downwards (1.0% of European GNI) under pressure from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries.
"The invoice doesn't match", he analyzed. According to him, it is the "modern" programmes (citing the TEN-T, Horizon Europe, Development Aid in Africa) that will suffer "enormous damage". In particular, Mr Oettinger expects very drastic cuts in development aid for Africa, for the simple reason that "African states are not at the table" in the negotiations. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)