MEPs debate on a deal that secures the 2024 EU budget aimed at addressing global challenges and supporting young people and research. The Parliament obtained better support, totalling almost €670 million in funding, for its priorities on top of what the Commission had initially proposed in its draft budget for 2024. Negotiations between Parliament, Council and the Commission ended with an agreement on Saturday 11 November. The preliminary figures for 2024 are €189.4 billion in commitment appropriations and €142.6 billion in payment appropriations. This news includes extracts from the debate (21/11), extracts from the vote and signature ceremony.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

vote

ceremony

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

HAHN, Johannes (AT, EC)

MUREŞAN, Siegfried (EPP, RO)

VAN OVERTVELDT, Johan (ECR, BE)

NEGRESCU, Victor (S&D, RO)

UŠAKOVS, Nils (S&D, LV)

HAYER, Valérie (Renew, FR)

ANDRESEN, Rasmus (Greens/EFA, DE)

Delivery EE2024 (T)

EU budget 2024 (T)

2024 budgetary procedure: extracts from the debate (21/11), extracts from the vote and signature ceremony

Title: 2024 budgetary procedure: extracts from the debate (21/11), extracts from the vote and signature ceremony (EbS) 

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR, BE), Rapporteur, Council and Parliament have adjusted the Commission's proposed budget to take into account current challenges. These challenges are real. They include two wars and there is also additional funding for humanitarian assistance. We have also supported Erasmus Plus at the Connecting Europe Facility. The Horizon Research and Development Programme. These sensible programmes with added value for the whole Union. There are also increases for combating anti Semitism, which unfortunately is again rearing its head in towns and cities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Siegfried MUREȘAN (EPP, RO), Rapporteur, To make sure that the money from the European Union budget is well spent we are also strengthening the European Public Prosecutor's Office to make sure that irregularities and fraud which exist, but which is of course an exception and not a significant phenomenon, that we should make sure that they are tackled so that citizens in Europe know that EU money is well spent.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Esperanza SAMBLAS, Secretary of State for EU Budget, This agreement shows that our three institutions are able to work effectively together in mutual understanding and respect for our challenges of the 2024, the fourth year of our MFF. Our budget replies to our priorities, our geopolitical challenges. It meets our legal undertakings and it also assists in important projects for our EU citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Like each year, the initial opposition were quite far apart and not easy to reconcile. Therefore, I appreciate all parties acted responsibly and made the necessary compromises to have a solid agreement on time. Even if it's clear that we will need to come back to this as soon as the MFF mid-term revision is agreed.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Victor NEGRESCU (S&D, RO), It is important for the EU to be given the resources it needs. In the 2024 budget, the Socialists & Democrats have managed to increase funding for farming, especially young farmers, research and development, financial resources for the transport sector, especially north east Romania and the Danube area. As well as health programs.

SOUNDBITE (French), Valerie HAYER (Renew, FR), Let's be frank, this is not a historic agreement, nor is it sufficient. Our support simply has the objective of achieving continuity of European programmes in 2024. The real fight colleagues is going to have to take place on the battlefield of the MFF. It's the only area where we can achieve sufficient sums to end our critical dependencies, manage our borders and the migratory flows, and of course help Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (French), Valerie HAYER (Renew, FR), So I think it's important to continue negotiating here. The negotiations are difficult, long, arduous and there will be many political choices to make. And in order to manage this, we need to keep our heads up.

SOUNDBITE (German), rasmus ANDRESEN (Greens/EFA, DE), The Greens will therefore be voting for the budget tomorrow. But the budget is still just one year. We need to review the MFF. We need greater flexibility in order to respond to crises and invest in our future. The verdict of the German Constitutional Court on the German budget will make this more difficult. So our words go to Berlin as well. We need a policy that makes it possible to invest in the future, not encourage businesses to leave Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, announces the opening of the vote on the 2024 Budget (7 shots)

Final vote: 519 in favour, 79 against, and 30 abstained

Signature and family photo with Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Siegfried MUREȘAN (EPP, RO), and Nils USAKOVS (S&amp;D, LT), Rapporteurs (5 shots)