The European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets voted on Monday 31 August on the proposal concerning the EU’s own resources system stemming from the agreement on the Recovery Plan and the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). It will finalize it on Tuesday 1 September.
By adopting compromise amendments to the report from José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, Portugal) and Valérie Hayer (Renew Europe, France), MEPs are pushing for a more ambitious reform of the EU’s own resources system than the European Council, with a precise timetable.
In addition to the application of a uniform call rate for the weight of non-recycled plastic packaging waste (plastic tax) beginning 1 January 2021, with a call rate that “shall not exceed EUR 2.00 per kilogram”, MEPs are suggesting the following new sources of revenue: - as of 1 January 2021, a uniform call rate on the proceeds from the sale of allowances under the Emissions Trading Scheme; - as of 1 January 2023, use of revenues generated by the tax on digital services; - as of 1 January 2024, introduction of a financial transaction tax; - as of 1 January 2023, a system of revenues generated by a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
The MEPs reiterated their position in favour of eliminating budget rebates and corrections granted to EU countries, contrary to what EU leaders decided.
This proposal on own resources must be adopted by the EU Council and ratified by the national parliaments. The own resources decision provides the legal basis for the Commission to borrow funds on the markets and finance the expenditure of the Recovery Plan.
The EU Council, Parliament, and Commission are trying to finalise an agreement on the 2021-2027 MFF and the Recovery Plan (see EUROPE 12547/6).
Link to Parliament’s amendments on own resources: https://bit.ly/34PptVN (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)