Debate: Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget -  financial year
Date: TUESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2022
Speaker: Nicolae Ştefănuță
Country: Belgium
Language: EN

But we can deal with this crisis together, not only with words, but with money. Here in the House of Europe, we will echo what President Zelenskyy said: ‘without gas or without Putin? Without Putin’. ‘Without Putin’ means more support from the EU budget, and each support means a faster victory. We are hearing some good news from Ukraine on the counteroffensive. That means that our support actually matters. Each euro will bring us closer to victory. Now the Council’s position on the EU budget is traditional in the most untraditional of times, in the most extraordinary of times. The Council makes EUR 1.6 billion in cuts overall from research, and even EUR 200 million from health. As usual, the Council cuts some priorities that are dear to the European Parliament, but these are not usual times. I have to say, Mr President, that margins should be created at the beginning of the process, not at the end. By reading the Czech Presidency’s position, I hope health and energy are important to you, just as they are important to us. What other crises do we need in addition to realise that these are not normal times? These are not times where we need to spare money for future years, but rather times where every cent should be spent to the benefit of our citizens. We also don’t want to choose which people we will be able to help: the Ukrainian citizens, the refugees, the poor EU citizens who are the victims of the energy crisis and inflation. This is why, Minister, my message is clear. We need an urgent revision of the MFF to be able to help our citizens in these extraordinary hard times. This year we need to make do with everything we have got for the citizens. I give you an example of two important headings, very current ones: those dealing with refugees and with humanitarian aid, which are unfortunately empty. This is just not normal. The EU’s credibility is at stake. We have to help our SMEs. We have to help the health sector, we have to help the youth that has been very affected by the pandemic. We need to invest more in defence and military mobility, especially in these times. Beyond money, we also need to understand the importance of Schengen enlargement for Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia this year. This doesn’t cost you anything, and it costs us a lot. This will ease military mobility, but also we can boost the European economy by billions. Let’s think also in terms of economics in this. Our friends from Ukraine and Moldova need our support right now. Madam President, Commissioner, as the general rapporteur, I don’t speak just for myself; I speak for all the shadows who are here in the room or the chair. I speak for Parliament with one voice. We think that this year, more than in others, the EU budget is just too modest. Ten years ago, the European Union received a Nobel Peace Prize for creating a space without war. But today, instead of celebrating peace, we have an unjust war at our borders. And yes, democracy has a price. Peace has a price, too. And we need to spread peace and say it out loud: ‘peace, also with the support of the European Union budget’.