The Committee on Budgets (BUDG) debate on the state of play of negotiations of the Multiannual Financial Framework, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Statement by Johan VAN OVERTVELDT, Chairman of the Committee on Budgets and views in the meeting room.

MFF - State of play of negotiations: statement by Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR, BE), Chairman of the Committee on Budgets and views in the meeting room

Atmosphere shots from the meeting room, 16 shots

SOUNDBITE (English), Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR, BE), The main point of discussion between the council and the parliament remains the top ups. The additional money for the flagship programs of the European Union, Horizon, Erasmus, Invest EU. Such programs because the parliament thinks these programs are very important in the short run, but certainly also in the long run to deal with the Covid crisis, to keep the European Union competitive and and to keep the economy going. The discussion is on the amount. There is an offer from the council, which is deemed largely insufficient by the parliament. We have made a counterproposal of 39 billion. And that's what we discussed yesterday morning in the informal meeting between the council and the parliament delegation. No agreement as he had been reached. And we insisted upon bringing our proposal to the table of the European Council today.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR, BE), It's not a question of countries. It's a question of diverse coalitions, because the feelings in the different countries on the different issues that form the whole of this package are quite different. You have the Frugal countries, you have the Eastern European countries, you have the southern European countries. It's a complex political issue. But again, that's life in the European Union. And so what is the most important thing now is that the council takes our proposal seriously and treat it as seriously.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR, BE), We have been saying from the beginning that our consent depends on a reasonable counter of proposal from the council with respect to these programs. So if they don't accept our proposal, we hope at least that they come up with a counterproposal that we then can judge against the background of the parliament's position on this issue. And then we'll see. There is not yet a new trialogue planned. And both I think it's fair to assume that early next week we will see that again.

MFF - State of play of negotiations: statement by Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR, BE), Chairman of the Committee on Budgets and views in the meeting room

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