Debate: General budget of the European Union for the financial year  - all sections
Date: TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Johannes Hahn
Language: EN

I welcome the timely achievement of the two rapporteurs, Mr Ressler and Mr Boeselager, in reaching a broad support among political groups and committees. I further appreciate that the amendments proposed by the Parliament reinstate most of the expenditure at the level proposed by the Commission in the draft budget. Third, the Parliament proposes reinforcements for a number of programmes for 2022, for example in research and innovation, including the use of Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation, climate action, employment opportunities for youth, including the Child Guarantee, actions related to asylum and migration and health.  Both the European Parliament and the Council have now set the framework of their respective negotiation mandates, and I could only reiterate my great regret at the Council cuts, which are not in line with the MFF agreement and don’t follow the Council’s own priorities. The overall cut amounts to EUR 1.4 billion in commitments and EUR 724 million in payments. At the same time, the Parliament requests substantial increases of EUR 2.7 billion in commitments and EUR 1.8 billion in payments. This request exceeds the available margins in nearly all headings, as well as the availabilities under the special instruments.  The positions of the Parliament and the Council diverge substantially, which is, in a way, surprising, given the still fresh agreement on the MFF reached less than one year ago, but I would say that this is obviously the provisional start of negotiations and now we have to see how to converge. Today’s debate and the exchange of views should increase our mutual understanding, facilitate progress towards a common approach and indeed find a common denominator. The Commission services are examining thoroughly all amendments proposed by the Parliament, together with those proposed by the Council. To facilitate the upcoming negotiations, the Commission will present a detailed assessment of amendments proposed by the Council and Parliament in the so-called letter of executability. We will send this letter prior to the opening of the conciliation, shortly after the plenary vote on the Parliament’s position. I am confident that the negotiations will continue in the positive spirit we have had until now, and inevitably a clear prioritisation of tabled amendments from both institutions, as well as concessions on both sides, will be necessary.  As regards the next steps, we already presented the amending letter in last week’s trilogue to update agricultural expenditure and to introduce some new elements which have been proposed or updated since the adoption of the statement of estimates in June. This concerns, in particular, the 2022 instalment of the pre-financing of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, as well as continued support to refugees in Turkey and beyond. I would like to ask the European Parliament and the Council to consider this amending letter as an additional element in the negotiating process. I trust that the agreement on the 2022 budget will respect the recent political agreement on the 2021—2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, and that it will fairly reflect both the position of the Parliament and the Council.  As you know, we are still in a crisis situation. The vaccination campaigns have provided – and also proved – a relief, but many people still don’t have access to vaccines. Climate change makes the natural world less predictable, both within the Union and abroad, so let me stress that a timely agreement on a solid EU budget is the best way to support our society and our economy, and respond to the expectations of our citizens. We will all need to work constructively if we want to find a compromise in time and have the budget adopted.  Thank you so much for all your collaboration. I am looking forward to a good result in the interests of everybody.