Debate: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of - December  – MFF, Rule of Law Conditionality and Own Resources – Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years  to  – Proposal for an Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources – Regulation on the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2020
Speaker: Dacian Cioloş
Political group: Renew
Country: France
Language: FR

Mais cette année a aussi montré la capacité de rebond et a donné de réelles perspectives pour approfondir notre Union. Le travail de coordination pour la recherche et l’achat de vaccins en est un exemple, de même que le plan de relance qui vient de renforcer le budget pluriannuel. Nous allons reconstruire, mais aussi transformer autour de priorités véritablement européennes, comme le numérique et le pacte vert. Non seulement nous avons travaillé pour réagir à la crise, mais avec ces paquets de mesures, nous prenons aussi des décisions qui vont durablement marquer le projet européen. Je pense en particulier aux nouvelles ressources propres et à la conditionnalité liée à l’état de droit. Cela prouve que, sous la pression de réalités difficiles, nous pouvons progresser en Europe. But before adopting these measures, I want to tell you, Madam President, that both myself and my group listened carefully to your words and I welcome your statement that law prevails over political declaration, because the European Commission must fully respect the treaties. Indeed, its primary function is to do just that and apply the text as decided by co—legislators as soon as it enters into force and without any further constraint. This is extremely important for my group. We are very happy that we have this rule of law mechanism, it should be enforced at the beginning of the year, and in full, as the text provides. I would also like to point out that most of these measures were born here in this hemicycle and that they were able to see the light of day because we were able to build a solid majority to carry them through to the end. I would like to thank my colleagues. We have proved that Parliament can be united when it comes to reinforcing the European Union. This is something that we have to keep in mind, because the work is not finished yet –far from it.  Over and above the many legislative dossiers that are in the pipeline, we must make Europe more responsive. Its decisions must be faster and clearer, and to do that we should use the opportunity of the Conference on the Future of Europe that we have been pushing for since the beginning of this mandate.  This crisis has shown us the structural problem caused by the question of unanimity in the Council, which blocks a lot of important decisions concerning the European Union. This is not about not giving each Member State the possibility to be part of a decision. But if the objective of some Member States is only to block decisions without any strong arguments, then this is not the way to develop Europe.  So let’s not be afraid to debate this and find the right solution. Above all, let us never forget that Europe is most effective when it is united, determined and puts its citizens at the heart of its decisions and ambitions.