In its interim report on the long-term budget for 2021-2027, Parliament says it regrets the lack of progress in the Council so far and proposes setting up regular meeting between Parliament negotiators and future Council presidencies.

The hope is to avoid major setbacks for future EU programmes and job losses due to a late deal on the budget, as has happened in the past.

Planning for the future

During a debate by the budget committee on 9 October, Polish EPP member Jan Olbrycht, one of the MEPs responsible, said the report concerns the next steps of the budget as well as proposals regarding its structure and flexibility, providing specific figures for each EU programme.

MEPs say that the Commission proposal for a budget of 1.1% of the gross national income of the 27 member states would mean the EU was unable to deliver on its political commitments. This is why the report proposes to set the level at 1.3%, which French S&D member Isabelle Thomas, one of the other MEPs responsible, said would mean there was sufficient funding to deliver the policies the EU has announced.

Parliament opposes cuts on key EU policies, such as support for poorer regions, the common agricultural policy, the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative.

In line with the EU’s commitments under the Paris agreement on climate change, Parliament wants to significantly increase climate-related spending to reach a 30% target as soon as possible.