The final stretch to secure hard cash for a social dimension of the EU budget
By February 8, the heads of state will finalise their agreement on the EU budget for the next 7 years. That gives us less than three weeks to reiterate our support for a strong social pillar in the EU budget. We want at least the same budget for cohesion policy (as proposed by the Commission) and that 25% of its funds are dedicated to the European Social Fund and that 20% of the latter are allocated to combatting poverty and social exclusion. This seems more than essential at a time when unemployment is the highest in 15 years with 26 million people out of work and when poverty has trapped at least 120 million people despite the target set in 2010 to decrease it by 20 million by 2020.
In this final sprint, concerned by the current “cut” negotiations and feeling unheard by heads of state, we are mobilising on all sides. This week we will address the heads of state with the same requests we had in November since they have not been taken into account. We will also call for support from the Members of the European Parliament who – through their right of consent- can say no to the deal reached in the Council and reject it.
Believing in the motto of “one for all and all for one”, we are finalising a common position with the Spring Alliance which gathers other major EU stakeholders including the European trade unions, and environmental and development organisations. That position will also reach the 27 capitals in the coming days.
Like David against Goliath, we count on the Parliament to show its determination in the final negotiations. Political group leaders have warned the Council that they will call for a secret ballot on the day of the vote to avoid pressure from governments on their fellow citizens in the European Parliament.
The amounts at stake are huge – and cuts will mean that some essential actions will not be conducted. Currently the Commission’s proposal has been cut by €81 billion to €1,010. It may be even worse with the proposal of reducing it by €100 billion over 7 years.
If we cannot win this battle, get ready for the next one on more favourable grounds the Parliament seems to be saying. The amount of cuts seems difficult to negotiate with the Council and therefore the Parliament wants to push for qualitative changes in the next MFF in order to avoid the current situation happening again. First a reform of the revenue side to get rid of the national contributions that always trigger the “just retour” arguments from most capitals instead the Parliament requests independent financial resources such as a Financial Transaction Tax. Second, MEPs want a revision of the MFF budget (2014-2020) before 2018, hoping that the economic situation in Europe improve and thus increase the budget ceiling.
Pierre Baussand – Director
