Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), Chair of the CULT Committee, makes a statement following the exchange of views at the Committee on Culture and Education on the revised MFF proposal, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

statement

Committee on Culture and Education

VERHEYEN, Sabine (EPP, DE)

Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (T)

Revised MFF proposal: statement by Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), Chair of the CULT Committee following the exchange of views at the Committee on Culture and Education

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), First, we have to see that the original proposal from the Commission from the year 2018 was much higher than what is proposed now. And it was the minimum for what we need to fulfill the obligations out of the programs and the ambitious aims. We, as Parliament's said very clear that we need a tripling of the Erasmus plus and a doubling of creative Europe. And the one point two billion for the European Solidarity Corps to fulfill the expectations and also the obligations coming out of the program. And what is needed for the next generation. And a program that has the name Next Generation must also take into account the needs of this next generation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), The aim is also to make the programs more inclusive so that all the also those who are left behind can participate in the programs. And very often it was said that Erasmus Plus is just the program for middle class or higher income people and families. And I think it's important to have these programs more inclusive so that everyone can participate in this experience, which is important for Europe's future. And we are launching also a Europe of the future of Europe process. And also, this is part of such a process that we have young people who can make a European experience, and that is by the Parliament will fight for the tripling of the budget, as Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen promised when she wanted to be elected in September 2019.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), What is also important in the Creative Europe sector that we get an earmark, in the recovery plan for the creative and cultural sector and the media sector, so that the money that is given to the member states for the recovery after the covert nineteen crisis really reached also the sector that it has that is hit most throughout the coronavirus pandemic. And this will be the cultural and creative sector because they were closed down first and there will be open up again at last. And so we have to support them more and that can be done also out of the recovery fund. But that is why we need any earmark taking into account that the creative and the creative sectors and the creative industries make up to 3.8% of the GDP of the European Union and stands for more than 8 million jobs.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), We have to take into account that normally out of the recovery plan, we should get 3.8 % to support the sector, comparing to its value in the GDP. I don't think that we will get it. But just taking that as a reminder, this sector is an important, also economical factor and it's important for our societies. We have two characters of the sector and they should be seen and they should be supported.

Views in the Committee room during the meeting.