The European Parliament’s budget team raised concerns over the deal agreed by EU leaders earlier today, suggesting in a statement they will not approve it as it stands.
“Parliament cannot accept the proposed record low ceilings as they mean renouncing to the EU’s long-term objectives and strategic autonomy,” said Johan Van Overtveldt, the chair of the budget committee, and five other MEPs.
Parliament must give its approval for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the long-term budget at the heart of today’s deal, to take effect.
Highlighting health, research and climate change as priorities for the Parliament, the negotiators said they would “strive to secure improvements, including higher amounts” for programs such as Horizon Europe, InvestEU, the LIFE environment program and Erasmus+.
“And if our conditions are not sufficiently met we will adopt the programmes on the basis of the existing MFF, as foreseen by the Treaty,” they said, citing an EU law that would see the existing budget extended if there is no agreement by the start of 2021.
The deal is “a flagrant missed opportunity” when it comes to ”modernising the revenue side, making it fairer and more transparent,“ the statement said.