As the European Commission presented the next long-term budget, President Roberta Metsola said that the European Parliament will play its part in ensuring that every euro empowers and that every cent counts.
Our world has changed and so must our long-term budget. The status quo cannot meet tomorrow’s challenges which are too big to be addressed by individual countries alone. Our citizens know this: 8 in 10 Europeans tell us that an increasing number of projects will need to be funded together, by the EU rather than by individual Member States. This means, investing in what matters to deliver real European added value: clean tech, cutting-edge research, food security, digital innovation. This means supporting our farmers, students, scientists, and start-ups. We must deliver on a Union that starts in the regions, close to citizens; that starts in the streets, not on spreadsheets. The proposed “one national plan per member state” model is the wrong road. It side-lines the people who know our communities and their needs best - our local and regional authorities. This is our European budget, not a blank cheque for Member States. We must deliver on a Union that looks to future generations. They cannot be the ones footing the bill for old debts. The European Parliament welcomes the proposal for a reform of own resources, which answers our call. It is high time we deliver on that front because fiscal discipline is not a choice, it is our responsibility. Parliament will play its part ensuring that every euro empowers and that every cent counts. We are ready to work for a future budget that Europe needs: fair, flexible, and future-proof.