The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said on Tuesday 1 December in Brussels, after a meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, that he supported the efforts of the German Presidency of the EU Council to “resolve the issue” of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 and the EU Economic Recovery Plan (see EUROPE 12611/14) as soon as possible.
Hungary and Poland refuse to endorse the MFF and the Recovery Plan, as they challenge the agreement on the mechanism linking the disbursement of EU funds to respect for the Rule of law.
No plan B. “There is no Plan B, we have to adopt the MFF and the Recovery Plan. The European Council of 10 and 11 December could last several days, until 31 December if necessary, but an agreement is needed”, hammered Mr Costa, whose country will hold the Presidency of the EU Council for 6 months from 1 January 2021. He warned against a drastic cut in cohesion policy funds without an agreement on the 2021-2027 MFF in early 2021.
Asked about possible avenues of compromise, Mr Michel, who “does not underestimate the seriousness of the situation”, said he did not wish to “say things that make the work of negotiation more difficult”, as this is essential in the coming days to try to find a solution. Mr Michel recalled that several other subjects are on the agenda of the next European Council.
Mr Costa argued that “we cannot reopen” the agreement between the EU institutions on the MFF and the Recovery Plan. Mr Costa also defended the compromise reached on Rule of law conditionality. “There is no doubt about Portugal’s commitment to European values”, Mr Michel said. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)