On Tuesday 14 January, MEPs backed the programme of the Croatian Presidency of the EU Council, in particular the need for an ambitious 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework.
The Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, asserted that the new MFF should “meet the expectations of all citizens in all Member States”. To do so, the ‘cohesion’ and ‘agriculture’ dimensions must be taken into account, as well as the new challenges facing the EU. “We cannot afford delays” in the implementation of the programmes, he warned, promising to spare no effort to find a solution, although negotiations are expected to be tense.
“We look forward to close and effective cooperation with the European Parliament”, said Mr Plenković. While saying he understood the concerns of MEPs, who announced at the end of December that much of the negotiations with the EU Council on the programmes linked to the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 would be frozen (see EUROPE 12395/3), the Prime Minister said it was “crucial to continue negotiations at all levels and on all dossiers”. If “we fail, we will only strengthen those who do not want a strong Europe”, he warned.
The leaders of the political groups expressed support for a strong MFF. “We need results in terms of budget. Let’s stop discussing in terms of net contributors or net beneficiaries and discuss in terms of tasks. When there are new tasks, new money is needed”, stressed the EPP group president in Parliament, Manfred Weber (Germany), adding that it is “time for the youngest Member State to lead the way”.
The president of the S&D group in Parliament, Spain’s Iratxe García Péres, hoped for a Croatian proposal “in line with the European Parliament’s proposal”, recalling that “we cannot do more with less”. The same goes for Renew Europe, via its president Dacian Cioloș (Romania), who hopes that Mr Plenković has heard the Parliament, “which wants a strong MFF and own resources commensurate with our political ambitions”.
Representatives of the EPP, S&D and Renew Europe groups also supported Croatian ambitions on the issue of enlargement. In October, Parliament adopted a resolution denouncing the refusal of some Member States to open these negotiations (see EUROPE 12356/6).
An insufficiently social programme
The Croatian Prime Minister also faced criticism. According to Mrs García Péres, its programme for the EU Council Presidency is not social enough. “We are going to ask you to be more ambitious for the social Europe we need”, she warned. She added: “We need a real action plan to implement the social pillar”. Mrs García Péres regretted that the minimum wage, a real plan to combat poverty and unemployment insurance are absent from the programme.
Greens/EFA Co-President Ska Keller (Germany) called for action at the EU level to combat climate change.
The Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups, through Ska Keller and his compatriot Martin Schirdewan, denounced Croatia’s management of its border, condemning violent acts by the Croatian police against migrants trying to reach the EU. “Human rights must be respected, both within the EU and on the Croatian border”, Mr Schirdewan stressed. Mr Plenković recalled that these are only allegations and that they will be investigated.
On behalf of the ECR, the Croatian Ruža Tomašić hoped that the Croatian Presidency would use the next six months to strengthen the country’s role in the EU in order to show that it “has an ambitious vision and is ready to lead Europe” and not just follow other Member States. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)