During the EP plenary session (12 - 15 March 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate their draft negotiating position for the EU’s post-2020 budget. The next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) must match the EU’s ambitions, boost research programmes and support young people and small companies. Statements by Jan OLBRYCHT (EPP, PL), Rapporteur, Isabelle THOMAS (S&D, FR), Rapporteur, Gérard DEPREZ (ALDE, BE), Rapporteur, Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (EPP, PL), Rapporteur, and Günther OETTINGER, Member of the EC in charge of Budget and Human Resources.

Strasbourg

plenary session

LEWANDOWSKI, Janusz (EPP, PL)

THOMAS, Isabelle (S&D, FR)

own resources (T)

joint debate

DEPREZ, Gérard (ALDE, BE)

OETTINGER, Günther (DE, EC)

OLBRYCHT, Jan (EPP, PL)

Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (T)

MFF and own resources post-2020: extracts from the joint debate

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jan OLBRYCHT (EPP, PL), Rapporteur, When the UK leaves the European Union we have a totally new landscape and new budgetary landscape as well and we feel that the European Union ought to have a budget of a specific level, to remain at a specific level as well.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jan OLBRYCHT (EPP, PL), Rapporteur , It is very important for us to have the necessary funds at our disposal also for new types of programs, in particularly for defence and security.

SOUNDBITE (French), Isabelle THOMAS (S&amp;D, FR), Rapporteur, We refuse to renew the very informal approach we have taken in the past, we have three messages here up to the current situation. Firstly retains cohesion and agricultural policy which are essential pillars in the Union. We need them because they bind us together.

SOUNDBITE (French), Isabelle THOMAS (S&amp;D, FR), Rapporteur , If we are to be responsible on this the EU has be given the resources to meet these goals and we expect the member states to give us something other than highfalutin speeches, those speeches need to go hand-in-hand with hard cash.

SOUNDBITE (French), G&#233;rard DEPREZ (ALDE, BE), Rapporteur , We want the member states to continue to contribute but that that should become a residual income source for the EU. 3 essential points are to be tackled by voting in favour on these 2 reports: We will be affirming the determination of this house when it is said that it will not accept the future MFF, if it doesn&rsquo;t include new own resources to guarantee its financing.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (EPP, PL), Rapporteur, We have a paradoxical situation. One the one hand we are criticizing the situation, the system. On the other hand, we have a very stable system in place. But of course, one has to emphasize that transparency is a major part of it and it is extremely important for the negotiation to take place in an atmosphere of transparency and openness.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (EPP, PL), Rapporteur , That&rsquo;s why we call and we feel it is absolutely necessary to get rid of the rebates, the rebates and the rebates of rebates, and the correctional mechanisms as well.

SOUNDBITE (German), G&#252;nther OETTINGER, Member of the EC in charge of Budget and Human Resources, I&rsquo;d like to pick up on the contributions from the National budgets, I like to see those reduced to a degree and the share of new own resources as an additional pillar, should be built on.

SOUNDBITE (German), G&#252;nther OETTINGER, Member of the EC in charge of Budget and Human Resources, Nevertheless on the part of reaching a conclusion to the negotiations, we want to see the possibility that there will have to be some moderate limited and clearly defined rebate if we want to achieve majority decision.

SOUNDBITE (German), G&#252;nther OETTINGER, Member of the EC in charge of Budget and Human Resources, I don&rsquo;t know if cohesion policy will be needed at the end of the next MFF, but in the coming decade to bring less-developed regions up to the level up to the average and to increase competitiveness for all regions and for social measures and smart climate measures and infrastructure measures, this will remain a necessity.