Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Greens/EFA Group Leader, makes a statement following the Special European Council, 20-21 February 2020. EU heads of state or government are in Brussels to discuss the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-2027 (MFF).

Brussels

LAMBERTS, Philippe (Greens/EFA, BE)

own resources (T)

Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (T)

extraordinary meeting of the European Council 20 February 2020 (T)

Statement by Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Greens/EFA Group Leader, following the Special European Council, 20-21 February 2020

Title: Statement by Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Greens/EFA Group Leader, following the Special European Council, 20-21 February 2020

SOUNDBITE (English), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Well, my feeling is that, based on the initial proposal of Charles Michel, I would say it is valid that it can only get worse. So sorry to be a bit negative, but I think it's a foregone conclusion that this Parliament cannot accept whatever comes out of this Council because it's obvious that the Parliament's demand on volume, on orientation of the budget, in alignment with the Green Deal, on the conditionality, on rule of law and on the own resources. None of our key political goals, as has been given real consideration by Charles Michel in his draft proposal. And again, I do not expect any of the 27 heads of state or government to take more into consideration what the Parliament proposes. So the question now will be for Parliament, assuming that there will be an agreement in the Council. Will the Parliament will earn it its name and therefore say "no" to a deal that everyone is clear would be unacceptable for us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), The time comes when Parliament will need to assert its rights. And I've heard and I remember 7 years ago, I was in the plenary when you had the EPP group leader, the Socialist group leader, the Liberal group leader, saying we will never, never, never - read my lips - never accept a seven year budget that would be in volumes smaller than for the 7 previous years. Guess what? Never became: we accept. So I hope that this time the Parliament will restore its reputation. I hope so, because frankly speaking, if you ask any member of the Council and you'll say, they are laughing. they are laughing because they think that whatever they come up with, Parliament will swallow. Well, it's about time that we show that no, Parliament is not just following everything.

SOUNDBITE (English), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), You know, they criticise the British government enough to foreseeing saying that they want their cake and eating it. Well, that's exactly what they the position they're all in. So they need to be serious. And well, if they're feed up of an European budget funded by member states, no problem. Let them authorise us to levy taxes directly. And then we don't need to ask every seven years member states. We don't need to beg the member states for money. We just talk to our citizens and say ok : these are the taxes that you pay, and this is what you get for those taxes. And then we can have a Democratic debate.

SOUNDBITE (English), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), You know, they criticise the British government enough to foreseeing saying that they want their cake and eating it. Well, that's exactly what they the position they're all in. So they need to be serious. And well, if they're fed up of an European budget funded by member states, no problem. Let them authorise us to levy taxes directly. And then we don't need to ask every seven years member states. We don't need to beg the member states for money. We just talk to our citizens and say ok : these are the taxes that you pay, and this is what you get for those taxes. And then we can have a Democratic debate.