The European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament is preparing the group’s position on the post-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF), as revealed in a working paper issued ahead of a group meeting on Wednesday, 21 May.
Competitiveness and crisis preparedness will need to be considered intersecting priorities. Simplified and equipped with more resources, the post-2027 MFF will need to ensure EU values and fundamental rights are respected as well as prepare the EU for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession.
The group confirms that it does not agree with the architecture that the European Commission has devised—completely in line with the European Parliament’s position (see EUROPE 13635/1). It is also opposed to the notion of national plans, which would relegate the European Parliament to the bench. In addition, the group disapproves of including cohesion and the common agricultural policy (CAP) in these plans as well as making them conditional on a ‘money for reforms’ basis.
A fervent advocate of simplification, the EPP explains that it must not encroach upon the European Parliament’s role in budgetary control and calls for “cash flows [to be tracked] in real time to final beneficiaries”.
In favour of “the urgent introduction of new own resources” (NORs), the EPP nevertheless warns that they “should not lead to additional taxes that overburden the citizens”. In view of the deadlock in the EU Council over NORs, the EPP suggests that the European Parliament make its approval of the MFF conditional on progress on this issue.
The paper introduces a notable difference from the S&D: recourse to joint borrowing, which is essential for Social Democrats, should only be considered “as one option [...], only in exceptional cases”, according to the EPP. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)