Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper), The EPP Group welcomes a deal on an EU budget for 2024 worth a total of €189.4 billion, following tonight’s conclusion of negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council (Member States).
The agreement reverses attempted cutbacks by the Member States according to Parliament’s lead negotiator and EPP Vice-Chair Siegfried Mureşan MEP and adds €807.7 million of top-ups to the key priority lines.
“Tonight’s agreement secures more money €85 million for research under Horizon, a €20 million boost for young farmers, more investment in educational opportunities under Erasmus+ (€60 million), and increased funding to combat antisemitism (€10.5 million). Increases to the budgetary allocations for the neighborhood and for tackling the consequences of the Russian aggression in Ukraine have been won. There’s a greater allocation for humanitarian aid planned for those in most need”, MEP Mureşan said.
“With this deal, we have reversed cutbacks proposed by the Council that would have had a detrimental impact on the Union, citizens and businesses. At a time of unprecedented geopolitical challenges and uncertainty, the EU budget must be strengthened, not weakened, so we are ready to face any future crises.
“However, it is unfortunate that we do not yet have an agreement in Council on the revision of the EU’s long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The revision is desperately needed with little or no reserves or margins left to deliver on the EU’s priorities under some headings of the current MFF.
We urge EU leaders to show responsibility and to persevere until the MFF update is finalized. Without an MFF revision, we cannot deliver on the €50 billion Ukraine Facility package which we have committed to”, Mureşan warned.
A plenary vote on tonight’s Budget 2024 agreement will be held in Strasbourg later this month.
