In the second quarter of 2023, the European Commission will propose a revision of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021–2027, according to a draft work programme for next year. Other priorities for the institution include continued support for Ukraine, reducing energy prices and even industrial competitiveness, food security and strengthening the social market economy.
The official work programme will be presented on Tuesday 18 October in the plenary of the European Parliament by President Ursula von der Leyen.
Budget too limited. “In recent years Europeans have seen first-hand what a difference our EU budget can make. However, resources and flexibilities are limited. The mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027, which we will carry out in 2023, will be an opportunity to re-assess if the current EU budget continues to provide the means for common responses to common challenges”, reads the draft communication accompanying the European Commission’s work programme.
To this end, the Commission will also present a proposal for a second collection of new own resources for the EU budget, building in particular on the proposal for a single set of tax rules for companies in Europe (BEFIT). Objective: to ensure the repayment of the Next Generation EU Recovery Plan.
European Green Deal. In particular, the document states that the Commission will present a legislative proposal to reform the EU electricity market in the third quarter. However, according to our information, the timetable could change as President von der Leyen would like to bring the initiative forward to the first quarter, as announced by the Commission on several occasions.
Other proposals include: a European hydrogen bank, new genomic techniques, animal welfare, sustainable food systems and even the protection and restoration of soil (second quarter).
In 2023, “we will take action to reduce waste and its impact on the environment, with a focus on food and textile waste, an issue identified during the Conference on the Future of Europe”, according to the draft work programme. Another project is to make freight transport more green in order to reduce emissions and pollution resulting from transport.
In the digital field, the European Commission will propose a ‘European act’ on critical raw materials.
Economy. The European Commission will push for the creation of a new European Sovereignty Fund to support EU industry.
Several initiatives have been planned in respect of economic governance (first quarter), corporation tax, and the social economy package (second half of the year).
Other proposals are expected in relation to space (security and defence), mental health, legal migration, the Schengen area and cyber security. The revision of the REACH regulation has also been announced.
Link to the draft work programme: https://aeur.eu/f/3md
Link to the annex on the proposals: https://aeur.eu/f/3me (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur and Damien Génicot)