Representatives of the EU Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission made progress, on Wednesday 21 October, in negotiations to finalise the details of the Recovery Plan and the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12583/6).
Negotiations between the three institutions are keeping up a good pace, with two meetings scheduled for next week: Monday 26 (restricted format) and Wednesday 28 October.
Discussions at the eighth such meeting of this type on Wednesday focused on how to increase funding for 15 EU flagship programmes (Horizon 2020, Erasmus+...).
The European Parliament wants an increase of €39 billion, of which: €13 billion from the space freed up by accounting for repayments under the Recovery Plan and interest over and above the MFF ceilings, a €9 billion increase in the MFF ceilings. The objective pursued: that the total ceiling of the MFF 2021-2027 should correspond to the MFF 2014-2020 (€1.083 trillion).
Margarida Marques (S&D, Portugal), co-rapporteur on the MFF, told EUROPE on Thursday 22 October that progress had been made, as the German Presidency of the EU Council agreed to mention “other alternatives” than using budgetary flexibility to release amounts beyond the MFF ceilings. The European Parliament has always presented “viable alternatives” that respect the EU leaders’ agreement of 21 July on the MFF and Recovery Plan, she said.
The negotiators also took stock of own resources. There is an agreement in principle to include a timetable with new own resources in the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary matters. However, disagreements persist on the dates of introduction, in particular for the ETS resources (the European Parliament is calling for 1 January 2021) and the financial transaction tax (beginning of 2024 according to the Parliament). At the same time, negotiations between the European Parliament and the EU Council are continuing on the link between payment of budget appropriations and respect for the Rule of law. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)